BEGINNER CLASS (A1)

Palm Heel Strike

Drill: Sprint- Push up drill

Palm Heel Strike combo: Left/Left/Right/Left/Right

Hammerfist to the side

Choke from Behind

Drill: groups of 4; monkey in the middle with two pad holders; defender makes hammerfists and Palm Heel strikes; now and then, the fourth person does Choke from Behind.

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A1)

Combo #6 (Left Hook/Right Cross/Left Hook) – emphasize bursting in on first hook

Headbutt Forward

Headbutt Side

Headlock from the Side (include headbutts in counters)

Bearhug from the Front, Arms caught (include headbutts in counters)

Drill: eyes closed, Bearhug Front or Headlock Side

 

 

ADVANCED CLASS (A1)

Round Kick

Jumping Round Kick

Scissor Round Kick

Knife Downward Stab

Knife Threat

Drill: eyes closed, open on command, recognize Downward Stab v. Knife Threat

Beginner (A1)

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, Round Kick, 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 (A1)

Headbutt Forward

Headbutt Backward

Uppercut

Spinning on centerline (review)

Focus mitts and belly pad

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

Drill: 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.

Advanced Technique: Gun from the Front

Drill: Groups of 3. 1 Mitt holder; 1 Attacker with Gun; 1 Defender. Mitt holder spins Striker and cues for either combination from earlier drill against the wall. Attacker can also verbal cue and make Gun from the Front. After making the appropriate defense, Defender should make space away from wall and stack attackers if possible.

 

Advanced (A1)

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 (A1)
Movement - Shadow boxing w/o punches or kicks
Basic Takedown Defense (changing height, moving feet)
Choke from Behind
Drill: A/B drill. Group A attacks, group B defends. Defenders in passive stance, eyes closed. Attackers choke from behind. During defense, attacks should try to grab at defender's legs or get under the control arm to take defender down. Safety Note: Attackers should NOT actually perform the takedown unless ample space is available and everyone knows how to fall break safely. Simply exposing the opportunity for the takedown is sufficient.

Intermediate (A1)
Defense vs. Low Round Kick (absorb)
Defense vs. Low Round Kick (shin block)
Focus Mitt Drill: Round 1: pad holder calls for combinations 1-5. Striker delivers punches to focus mitt then throws appropriate low round kick at the end of the combination. Focus mitt holder either absorbs or checks the kick. Round 2: Same drill with combinations 6-9. Round 3: free work any combination, everything ends with a low round kick.
Headlock from the Side
Drill: A/B drill. Group A attacks, group B defends. Defenders in passive stance, eyes closed. Attackers headlock from either side.

Advanced (A1)
Thai pad rounds from opposite stance. Round 1: Combinations 1-5 with kicks. Round 2: 6-10 with kicks. Round 3: Freework
Gun from Behind (touching), live side & dead side
Gun from Side, Behind the Arm (both sides)
Circle-of-Death Drill: 1 defender, rest of class attacks. All lower Level (1-3) attacks plus gun from behind (touching), and gun from side (behind arm). Have attackers & defenders go half-speed for 30 seconds to establish a rhythm of constant attacks, then immediately into the full speed drill for 60 seconds.

Beginner (A1)

Left/Right Combination

Front Kick (Groin)

Round (kick)

Knee

3 Round Drill

Choke from behind

Drill: defender; non-stop straight punches on a pad, attacker; Choke from behind

 

Intermediate (A1)

Hook Punch

Uppercut

Focus Mitt Combination: Right Cross, Left Hook, Right Uppercut

Kick off from the Guard

Choke from the side on the Ground- show kicking first, similar to kick off from guard

Choke from the side on the Ground- Arm Bar

Drill: Choke from the Side- if the attacker stays close, use arm bar; if you can make space, kick away; get up and work focus mitts (use today's combo) then drop and restart.

 

Advanced (A1)

Light Sparring- one partner attacks, the other defends, short combinations

Light Sparring- both attack, both defend, light contact

Gun- from front against a left-handed gunman, use both the regular and the 2- handed cupping technique

Beginner (A1)

Straight Punches

Front Kick Groin

Knees

Drill: 1 minute rounds. Striker sends all out punches. On holder's cue of “KICK!” striker stops punching, as padholder steps back to hold for Front Kick Groin, then returns to striking.  Add call of "KNEE!" after first round. Repeat for time. Switch after each round. Increase number of kicks/knees per call by 1 each round.

Choke from the Front 2 handed Pluck

Drill: Defenders at one end of gym, neutral, eyes closed. Attackers run to opposite end of gym, do 3 burpees, run back down and attack with either choke from front 2 handed pluck or pick up pad for drill from earlier but finishing on 2 kicks.

 

Intermediate (A1)

Gloves and shin guards

Drill: 2 minute round; using gloves as focus mitts, A holds for B calling for basic combinations. Switch.

Defense v. Low Round Kick (absorb)

Drill: Basic combinations + holder can throw Low Round Kick. B absorbs and counters with a Combination #6 (cross/hook/cross) or Combination #7 (hook/cross/hook).

Defense v. Low Round Kick (shin block)

Drill:  Basic combinations + holder can throw Low Round Kick. B shin blocks and counters with a Combination #6 (cross/hook/cross) or Combination #7 (hook/cross/hook).

Ground – Headlock from the Side Backward

Drill: Groups of 3; A is attacker; B is defender/striker; C is timekeeper/pad holder. A attacks B with Ground – Headlock from the Side Backward, giving active resistance. C counts how many seconds it takes B to extricate from headlock, and when B stands up counts off that many seconds for punches on a tombstone pad. Repeat for time before having students rotate through all positions.

 

Advanced (A1)

Jumping Front Kick

Jumping Round Kick

Drill: Basic combatives on curved kick shield. When pad holder calls "UP!" Striker must throw Jumping Front Kick to Pad. Increase the number of kicks per verbal cue every minute for 3 minutes.

Drill: Same as previous drill but Striker throws Jumping Round Kick when pad holder calls "UP!"

Gun from Behind, Touching

Gun to the Side of the Head

Drill: Groups of 3. Repeat previous drill on pads. The third person in each group can attack the Striker with Gun from Behind, Touching or Gun to the Side of the Head.

BEGINNER CLASS (A1)
Elbow #2
Hammerfist to the side
Choke from Behind
Drill: 1 striker, 1 attacker, 1-2 pad holders. Striker stands in passive stance with eyes shut. Pad holders get striker’s attention verbally or by jarring them with the pad. Striker opens eyes and delivers either elbow #2 or side hammerfist, following up with 2-5 combatives. Attacker chokes striker from behind at any point during the drill (sometimes in passive stance, sometimes while striking on the pad).

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A1)
Headbutt Forward
Headbutt Upward
Headbutt to the Side
Headbutt Backward
Drill 1: Closing the distance. 1 tombstone pad holder, 1 striker. Striker stands in passive stance, eyes shut. Pad holder gets striker’s attention either verbally or by jarring them with the pad. Striker opens eyes, identifies threat, and strikes their way into using a headbutt (i.e. straight punch, elbow, headbutt)
Drill 2: 3 strikes drill. 1 focus mitt holder, 1 striker. Focus mitt holder places mitt on strikers face and pushes striker’s head (be a bully). Striker works on verbal de-escalation techniques and positioning (situational awareness). After a brief moment, mitt holder pushes striker’s head again (escalating situation). Striker, continues to de-escalate while maintaining situation awareness of room. Mitt holder pushes striker’s head for a third time and presents the mitt for strikes. Striker flips the switch immediately delivers punches, elbows, and headbutts to the pad. Reset and go again. Safety Note: mitt holder, be sure to make contact first, THEN push. Do not inadvertently slap your partner in the head.

 

ADVANCED CLASS (A1)
Review 360 defenses (bottom half of circle, both hands)
Knife – threat, defense to live side
Knife – threat, defense to dead side
Drill: Circle-of-death. 1 defender, everyone else is an attacker. Working at 25%-50% speed, attackers are allowed to bring on any unarmed attack from lower levels (1-3) as well as knife threats. Note: Defenders are training situational awareness. They should be constantly looking for attacker’s wielding weapons and prioritize those defenses accordingly.

BEGINNER CLASS (A1)

Straight Punches - include movement; have the pad holder call out "Go" and "Time"; sometimes, after the punches, the pad holder should walk forward and the puncher must move off line. NOTE: be sure the pad holders only walk forward AFTER the punches have stopped.

Front Kick Vertical Target

Combo: Front Kick Vertical Target/Left/Right

Choke from the Side

Drill: Eyes Closed -- either a choke from the side or a slight push to signal a Front Kick.

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A1)

Focus Mitts: 3 rounds of 2 minutes, emphasize movement after the combination

Bearhug Front, Arms Free, Neck Leverage

Ground - discuss control in the guard, preferably with your right hand wrapped around the attacker's neck and your left hand overlooking the attacker's right arm to prevent punches.

Ground - Kick Off from Guard

Drill: hold the attacker close in guard; as he tries to pull his head away, Kick Off from Guard

Drill: Attacker makes bearhug; defender tries to defend; sometimes, the attacker yells "Down!" and the defender must drop down, pull guard, and execute the ground techniques.

 

ADVANCED CLASS (A1)

Thai Pads: 3 rounds of 2 minutes, 30 second rest; emphasis on footwork and movement immediately following the combo; have the pad holder throw jabs to test distance after some combinations

Headlock from the Side, Spinning Inward

Gun from the Side, Behind the Arm

Drill: eyes closed, either side, either attack

Beginner (A1)
Fighting Stance
Palm Heel Strike
Front Kick to a Vertical Target
Combo- Front Kick to a Vertical Target/Left/Right Palm Heel Strike
Choke form the side
Drill: Eyes closed, defender either gets choked and has to defend or gets popped with a pad and makes palm heel strikes until pad holder calls time.

Intermediate (A1)
Hook Punch
Uppercut
Combo- L-Uppercutt/L-Hook/R-Cross/under/R-Cross/L-Hook/R-Cross
Headlock from the side
Drill: Work todays combo on mitts, attacker; Headlock from the side, defender makes an aggressive defense and get back to working the mitts

Advanced (A1)
Focus Mitts/Thai Pads form opposite stance- 2-3 minute rounds, add sprawl knee tucks to the last 2 rounds.
Cavaliers 1-4
Gun from the Front
Gun from the side of the head
Gun from behind (touching)
Drill: Groups of 3-4, non-stop Gun threats; 2 rounds- first round 50% speed and power, second round- Fast, Strong and aggressive!!

Beginner (A1)

Left/Right Combination

Front Kick (Groin)

Round (kick)

Knee

3 Round Drill

Choke from behind

Drill: defender; non-stop straight punches on a pad, attacker; Choke from behind

 

Intermediate (A1)

Hook Punch

Uppercut

Focus Mitt Combination: Right Cross, Left Hook, Right Uppercut

Kick off from the Guard

Choke from the side on the Ground- show kicking first, similar to kick off from guard

Choke from the side on the Ground- Arm Bar

Drill: Choke from the Side- if the attacker stays close, use arm bar; if you can make space, kick away; get up and work focus mitts (use today's combo) then drop and restart.

 

Advanced (A1)

Light Sparring- one partner attacks, the other defends, short combinations

Light Sparring- both attack, both defend, light contact

Gun- from front against a left-handed gunman, use both the regular and the 2- handed cupping technique

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BEGINNER (A1)
Left/Right Combination
Front Kick to a Vertical Target
Knees (regular and round)
Drill: Combo- Front Kick Vertical Target, L/R combination followed by non stop knees. On instructors signal, 3 Burpees, 3 Push ups and repeat combination.
Wrist Releases
Choke from Behind
Drill: Defender Eyes Closed, Attacker; make choke from behind Or bump defender with pad and hold for strikes.

INTERMEDIATE (A1)
Basic Punching and Kicking to large shield
Drill: “in” and “out” on instructors command, practicing distance continuum (kicks, punches, then elbows and knee, etc)
Front Kick with Advance (fighting and neutral)
Defense v. Low Round Kick (absorb)
Defense v. Front Kick (stopping)
Bearhug Front Arms free (space)
Bearhug Front Arms free (neck leverage)

ADVANCED CLASS (A1)
Axe Kick
COMBO: 4 Straight Punches + Front Groin Kick + Axe Kick (Same Leg), switch fighting stance, repeat.
Jumping Front Kick
DRILL: Pad Line. Pad holders line up in a line. Strikers perform a single kick to pad, then shuffle to next pad.
Headlock Side – Spinning Inward
DRILL – FINAL: Roaming Attackers can apply either Headlock Side Regular OR Spinning Inward. Defender responds accordingly.