Beginner (B1)
Straight punch with advance
Straight punch with retreat
Round kick
Movement drill: using Thai pads or striking shield, striker pushes pad holder across the length of mat. Power jab/rear leg round kick, power cross/lead leg round kick with step.
Choke from the front with a push
Drill: defender starts in neutral position with eyes closed. Attacker either gives choke from the front with push, or hard push to chest with tombstone to create distance. On the push, the defender delivers an advancing straight punch and advancing round kick then resets.
Intermediate (B1)
Review straight punches and inside defenses (high and low)
Forward headbutt
Focus mitt combos: add slips and inside defense. After slip, striker delivers a #6 or #7 combo to pads (cross/hook/cross, hook/cross/hook), also add headbutt variable - after last punch, grab the mitt, close range, and headbutt.
Inside defense w/counter vs. left punch
Inside defense w/counter vs. right punch (1 counter)
Inside defense w/counter vs. right punch (2 counters)
Light sparring - Round 1: only straight punches, controlled body contact. Round 2: boxing only, body contact only. Emphasize combos.
Advanced (B1)
Warm up - review guard sweeps
Review standing guillotine defense (level 3)
Position drill: defender starts on ground with attacker in guard. The defender must break the attacker's posture and pull them down. Emphasize headlocks, underhooks, and using legs to pull attacker in. Repeat with light shoulder touching
Ground - leg triangle
Ground - guillotine
Ground - defense vs. guillotine
Repeat drill from above, but give the defender the option to get submission via leg triangle or guillotine.
BEGINNER CLASS (B1)
Palm Heel Strike
360
Drill: groups of 3, palm heel strikes to target, third person gives a verbal signal and burst forward with 360, defender must defend, then turn to the pad.
Knees (quick review)
Choke from the Front (1-Handed)
Drill: Non-Compliant Attacker- Attacker makes Choke from the Front and the defender defends. Once the defender begins to give knees, the attacker breaks off and comes back with a 360 attack.
INTERMEDIATE CLASS (B1)
Focus Mitts: Hooks and Uppercutts
Drill: groups of 3; make the appropriate hook or uppercut while third person holds up a hand; striker must call out the hand motion.
Defense v. Hook (extended)
Defense v. Hook (covering)
Ground- Trap and Roll
Ground- Elbow Escape
ADVANCED CLASS (B1)
Choose 3-4 self defense techniques from the lower levels to review
Add non-compliant attacker as described above
Gun from the Front - attacker grabs gun with his left hand to secure it; the defender must maintain control and continue with counterattacks.
Gun from the Front- attacker tries to punch defender with his left hand as the defender defends. Defender must be sure to keep his chin down.
BEGINNER CLASS (B1)
Punches- Straight (both sides)
Round Kick- emphasis on switch round kick
Thai Pads- Combination- Switch round kick, right punch, left punch, back leg round kick
Choke from behind with a push
Headlock from behind
Drill: Groups of 3, large shield; defender starts on their stomach, eyes closed, pad holder can stand any where on the mat, on instructors signal, defender must quickly get up, locate the pad holder and work the pad with non stop straight punches, attacker makes headlock from behind. After a successful defense, reset.
INTERMEDIATE CLASS (B1)
Side Kick
Back Kick
Combination: Side Kick, turn, Back Kick
360 with Counters
Outside Stabbing Defense v. Front Kick
Drill: defender eyes closed, 360 or Outside Stabbing defense v. Front Kick
Ground- Def v. choke full mount
Barricade Drill: Defender defends Choke full mount, quickly gets up, breaks through the barricade and 30 front kicks (groin) on pad
ADVANCED CLASS (B1)
Focus Mitts- 3-2 min. rounds- opposite stance
Thai Pads- 3-2 min. rounds- opposite stance- include: knees, elbows, sprawls.
Long Gun from the Front-Live Side (both sides, various angles)
Long Gum from the Front- Dead Side (both sides, various angles)
Drill: eyes closes- Long Gun defense from the Front- both sides, various angles
Beginner (B1)
Movement from Fighting Stance (Forward, Left, Right, & Back)
Straight Punches w/ Advance & Retreat
Drill: Partners traveling in 1 lane so as not to collide with anyone else. Pad holder has a tomb stone. Starting in punching range, pad holder will either advance one step or retreat one step. Striker will respond as quickly as possible and deliver an advancing straight punch or a retreating straight punch
Choke from the side
Drill: Groups of 4. 1 tombstone pad holder, 1 defender, 1 attacker, and 1 bystander. Defender must throw broken flurries w/ full aggression at the pad. Bystander “interferes” with Defender by body blocking the pad, pulling the defender away, or pushing the defender away. The Bystander must make it difficult, not impossible, for the Defender to get back to the pad to continue with flurries. The Defender may not hit, push, pull, or otherwise “fight” the Bystander. The defender must use footwork to get around the Bystander. At any point, the Attacker may choke the defender from either side, which the Defender will address with choke from the side defense.
Intermediate (B1)
Headbutts (forward, side, backward, & upward)
Defense vs. Hook (covering)
Drill: Pad holder with focus mitts. Calling combos 1-4. At any point, mitt holder yells “Cover” and throws a wide looping hook at the defender while presenting the other focus mitt in front of (but not touching) the defender’s face. Defender uses covering defense, then immediately throws a headbutt to the mitt presented in front of their face.
Choke from Front Against Wall
Drill: A/B drill. Half the class will be A, the other half will be B. A’s defend first, lining up in front of the wall (approximately arm’s length away), facing away from the wall. Defender’s close their eyes and any person in B group may attack any person in A group. Then switch.
Advanced (B1)
Punch one direction, kick in another
Drill: Group of 3. 1 focus mitt holder, 1 striker, 1 kick shield holder. Focus mitt holder and striker free work. Kick shield holder approaches striker and gets attention verbally. Striker includes a kick with any punch of the current combination.
Full Nelson – throw
Full Nelson – sweep
Drill: Defender stands in the middle of a crash pad with eyes closed. Attacker applies full nelson. Defender either throws attacker forward or sweeps attacker backward and finishes with combatives.
Beginner (B1)
Palm heel strike
Round kick
Movement drill: alternate power palm heels and round kick from opposite leg on tombstone or Thai pads down the length of the mat. Then have the pad holder stand at angles to the front and side of the defender (in neutral stance). On the pad-holder's command to go, the striker turns, delivers a palm heel/round kick combo.
Headlock from behind
Intermediate (B1)
Warm up: shrimp across mat. Forward single and two-leg shrimp backwards, side shrimp, and forward shrimp. Have students get used to the movements, then put them in a "shrimp box:" two strokes backwards, side, forwards, and side.
Ground- back fall break
Ground - forward roll
Ground - backward roll
Drill: Defender starts with eyes closed, attacker bumps hard from front or back. Defender does fall break or roll, then pops up and strikes the tombstone until "time" is called.
Ground - elbow escape
Drill: attacker has focus mitts or boxing gloves and tries to slap the defender's shoulders. Defender must escape from a determined attacker in full mount while defending punches.
Advanced (B1)
Focus mitt drills (MMA gloves or bare knuckles): Round 1- combos 1-10 with uppercut variable (last punch of combo is uppercut), Round 2- add elbow variable (add either elbow #1 or elbow #6 to the end of the combo, using opposite hand of last punch), Round 3- headbutt variable (same as elbow, but with head)
Jumping spinning back kick
Long gun from the front - live side
Drill: one attacker gives focus mitt combos while another attacker attacks with long gun, making sure to present live side. Repeat as desired.
BEGINNER (A3)
Palm Heel Strikes
DRILL: Strike w/ Distraction
Grps 3, Pad, Striker, Distractor. Striker sends all out Palm Heels. Distractor attempts to pull, move, obstruct strikes.
Elbows 1-3
Wrist Releases
DRILL:
Same as above, however distractor should attempt to work down to and hold wrist for release.
Choke - Rear
DRILL - FINAL:
Same as above, but Distractor can also attack with Choke.
__________
INTERMEDIATE (A3)
Front Kick/Strike (Straight & HF) Review
Front Kick w/ Advance
Defense vs Front Kick - Redirect
DRILL:
Grps 2, Attacker, Defender. Attacker sends Front Kick + Straight. Defender defends kick and punch (Inside Defense)
Knife - Upward Stab
DRILL - FINAL:
Same as above, but Attackers sends upward stab after Front Kick.
__________
ADVANCED (A3)
DRILL - WARMUP
Grps 2, Striker Padholder. Padholder holds pad against chest. Striker sends combo of various upper body front combatives (Straight, Hammer, Elbow, etc.), eventually clinching and finishing with several knees (padholder adjusts for knees when clinched).
Stick - Baseball Bat Defense
General Defense (Baseball Bat)/Close Quarters*
*Explore using the same defense in close from various attacks:
-Straight Punch/Haymaker
-Knife - Downward
-Attacker pushes away then attacks
DRILL - FINAL:
Grps 2, Defender, Attacker. Defender neutral, eyes closed. Attacker cues and can attack from distance with Baseball Swing or close for any technique explored above.
BEGINNER CLASS (A3)
Straight Punches
Drill: find your partner
360
Drill: 360 and add counters (simultaneous if possible) including punches, groin kicks, and knees
Choke from the Front (2 hands)
Drill: eyes closed, attacker has three options: 1) give verbal signal and make 360; 2) give verbal signal, hold pad for punches; 3) no verbal signal, make choke from the front
INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A3)
Focus Mitt Combo: Left/Right/step back out of range, step back in/Left/Right
Ground - Get Up (review)
Ground - Kick Off from Guard
Ground - Guard Reversal
Drill: attempt kick off or guard reversal
ADVANCED CLASS (A3)
Heel Kick (review)
Spinning Heel Kick
Focus Mitt Drill: Left/Right/Left/Spinning Heel Kick
Stick Overhead (detailed lesson, even if you have advanced students)
BEGINNER CLASS (A3)
Warm Up: Shoulder Tag (switch partners randomly every 30 seconds). After 2 minutes, drill becomes shoulder and knee tag.
Front Kick (Groin)
Knees
Combo: Front Kick/Knee (Same Leg) – work both sides
360 Defense
Choke from Behind
Drill: Group of 3. First person attacks second with single haymaker strikes. Second person defends using 360s. Third person randomly attacks first person with choke from behind between haymaker attacks. First person defends against choke from behind before returning to throwing haymakers at second person.
INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A3)
Hook Punch
Outside defense vs. Right punch
Drill: 2 people w/ boxing gloves. First round, one person attacking the whole time. Attacker throws any odd numbered combination (1, 3, 5, etc.) then throws a big looping right punch immediately after. Defender uses a combination of head movement and covering to address the combination being thrown. Upon seeing the big looping right punch, defender uses outside defense vs. right punch to capitalize on attacker’s opening. Second round, switch roles. Third round, alternate 1-for-1.
Bearhug Behind – Leverage on finger
Drill: A/B drill. Group A positions themselves with space all around on the mat and closes their eyes. Group B then attacks with bearhug from behind. Then groups switch roles.
ADVANCED CLASS (A3)
Review Heel Kick
Spinning Heel Kick
Sliding Defense vs. Spinning Heel Kick
Stopping Defense vs. Spinning Heel Kick
Drill: Shoulder tag. One person in each pair designated as attacker. Attacker randomly throws spinning heel kick and defender may either use sliding defense or stopping defense
Sparring: Boxing gloves, shin guards, & head gear. Light free-work sparring. The goal is to find openings to throw spinning heel kick and recognize spinning heel kicks being thrown. Safety Note: Spinning heel kicks should be thrown with as much control as possible and targeting the shoulder instead of the head in the event the defender fails to recognize the attack or appropriately defend.
Beginner (A3)
Ground - back position
Ground - getting up
Ground - front kick
Ground - round kick
Drill: groups of 4 with 3 kick shields. One defender starts on their back with kick shield holders to their front, left, and right. Pad holders shout "here!" or "go!" and the person on their back must acquire and strike each target as quickly as possible. The instructor can call "up!" or "down" and the drill continues either standing or on the ground. For the standing portion use mixed strikes on each pad.
Intermediate (A3)
Warm-up: 1 round of shadow boxing with boxing gloves, then grab a partner. Both partners punching at the same time, touching gloves or targeting body. Round 1- jab and cross. Round 2- one partner throws jab/cross high while other partner ducks and throws jab/cross to the body. Alternate back and forth. Round 3- high/low hook. One partner throws high hook while other partner bobs and weaves with body hook.
Cover drill: attacker throws alternating left and right punches, defender responds as follows:
1.) Slip Jab
2.) Slip Cross
3.) Pull Jab (transfer weight to back foot, pulling head out of range)
4.) Duck Cross
5.) Bob Left Hook
6.) Bob Right Hook
7.) Cover Left Hook (Body)
8.) Cover Right Hook (Body)
9.) Cover Left Hook
10.) Cover Right Hook
11.) Low inside defense Jab (Body)
12.) Low inside defense Cross (Body)
13.) Inside defense Jab
14.) Inside defense Cross
- Add counters as students get comfortable
Attack and defend: one student attacks with boxing combo, another defends. Repeat 3-5 times each, then switch. Increase speed and number of strikes as the drill continues.
Advanced (A3)
2 front kicks with switch
2 back kicks with switch
2 straight knees with switch
Review kick defenses (mid level)
General defense vs. mid- to high round kicks
Sliding defense vs. mid- to high round kicks
Kick tag: each student grabs a partner, both have full sparring gear. Each partner has 45 seconds to score as many points with kicks as possible. Points can only be scored by the second kick of a double kick (jump front/round, double front kick, etc.), and the defender can only defend. Kicks must land with good contact to valuable targets. Fakes and feints are highly encouraged.
BEGINNER CLASS (A3)
Straight Punches
Front Kick
360 – include counterattacks simultaneously (from Level 2) or after the defense
Choke From the Front (2 hands)
Drill: Attacker makes choke from the front; defender makes the defense and counters; the attacker steps back, then advances with 360; the defender must defense 360, then continue with counterattacks
INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A3)
Hook Punch
Focus Mitts: Right Cross/Left Hook
Focus Mitts: Left Hook/Right Cross — learn to advance on the Left Hook
Defense v. Low Round Kick (Shin Block)
Defense v. Low Round Kick Absorbing)
Combination: Defense Low Round Kick (absorbing) while making Right Cross/Left Hook
ADVANCED CLASS (A3)
Review Side Kick
Review Hammerfist
Drill: Interference Drill — 2 rounds!
Gun From Behind at a Distance
Machine Gun Takedown
Ready to build a stronger school with better training, better support, and a better network? Click here to submit your info and learn what it means to join the Krav Maga Alliance.