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 CLASS (A3)

Ground – Back Position

Ground – Front Kick

Ground – Round Kick – focus on recovering from round kick into back position

Ground – Getting up

Drill: pad holder (standing) moves around, then moves in to give target; defender (on the ground), gives a kick, then gets up; SOMETIMES the attacker stays away, SOMETIMES the attacker moves in, and the defender must continue with punches, knees, etc.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A3)
Focus Mitts – Combos 1-4; at the end of each combo, the pad holder steps forward, defender must side step and pivot
Ground – guard work- practice controlling attacker with closed guard
Ground – Arm Bar From Guard – include kicking and getting up

ADVANCED CLASS (A3)
Thai Paids Combos 1-4; at the end of each combo, the pad holder steps forward, defender must side step and pivot
Gun from Behind at a Distance
Machine Gun Takedown

BEGINNER CLASS (A3)

Straight Punches

Knees

Basic Takedown Defense

Drill: defender’s eyes are closed; attacker either gives a slight shove OR begins to grab the defender very lightly; the defender opens his eyes and either punches OR makes basic takedown defense.

Choke From Behind

INTERMEDIATE CLASS (A3)

“Everything From Awkward Angles”

Focus Mitt Work – basic combinations, but begin each one with Hammerfist to the Side

Defensive Back Kick with a Spin

Outside Defenses 1-5

Hair Grab From Behind

Drill: Groups of 3; 2 defenders, 1 attacker; defenders, light sparring (open palm, shin pads), attacker; grabs either defender's hair from behind.  Defender; makes the appropriate defense and continue sparring.

ADVANCED CLASS

Spinning Heel Kick

Sliding Defense v. Spinning Heel Kick

Stopping Defense v. Spinning Heel Kick

Stick – overhead or baseball bat

Drill: Groups of 3; 2 defenders, 1 attacker; defenders, light sparring (open palm, shin pads), attacker; gives a verbal signal and attacks with either overhead stick OR baseball bat.  Defender makes the appropriate defense and continue sparring.

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

Beginner Class (A3)

Movement- Fighting Stance Moving Forward, Left, Right, Back

Palm Heel strikes

Palm Heel Strikes from Mount Position

Drill: Movement, on instructor’s signal “Down”, non stop strikes from mount, on instructor’s signal “UP”, striker stands up and continues with Movement.

Choke from Front (2 handed)

Ground- Back Position

Ground- Front Kick

 

Intermediate Class (A3)

Defensive Front Kick

Defensive Front Kick with Advance

Drill: Eyes closed; pad holder gives a verbal signal and either walks over towards striker OR stands at a distance; striker makes the appropriate kick.

Defense v. Front Kick (stopping)

Partner Drill: Boxing Gloves; Defense v. Front Kick (stomping)/ Cross to the body/Hook to the head

Ground- Kick off from Guard

 

Advance Class (A3)

Thai Pads- 2 Rounds of 5 Minutes; 2 Kicks OR 2 Knees after every Combination

Quick Review: Inside Defenses with counters

General Def. v. Medium to high Kicks

Drill: Light Sparring

Stick-overhead defense

Stick- dead side

 

BEGINNER (A3)

Basic Takedown Defense

Knees w/ Clinch

DRILL:

Groups of 2, Defender, Attacker. Attacker holds pad for Knees some distance from Defender. Attacker randomly shoots in trying to touch pad to Defender’s hips. Defender applies Takedown Defense and sends Knee burst.

360 Defenses

DRILL:

Same as above, but Attacker no longer holds pad. Attacker can send 360 Attacks or shoot in. Defender still sends Knees, but must pull.

DRILL - FINAL: Open Close - 360/Takedown

Defender, Attacker w/ TS, Everyone else with KS. Defender in middle. On “CLOSE!” Pad holders close in and jostle Defender. TS holder stalks outside. On “OPEN!” the KS holders back off, allowing the TS holder to enter. TS holder can swing the pad for 360 or shoot in for Takedown Defense/Knees. Repeat “OPEN/CLOSE” for time.

___________

INTERMEDIATE (A3)

Hook Punch

Uppercut Punch

Bas Combos 1-4

DRILL:

Groups of 2, alternating Attacker, Defender, both with gloves on. Defender calls out 1-4. Attacker sends combo. Defender covers and absorbs combo. Switch roles and begin another round.

Outside Defenses (ALL)

DRILL:

Similar to above, but Attacker sends for Outside Defense. After defense, Attacker covers and absorbs Defender’s counter burst. Switch roles and begin another round.

DRILL - FINAL: Open Close - Outside Defense

Defender, Attacker, gloves on. Everyone else with KS. Defender in middle. On “CLOSE!” Pad holders close in and jostle Defender. Attacker stalks outside. On “OPEN!” the KS holders back off, allowing the Attacker to enter. Attacker sends for Outside Defense. After defense, Attacker covers and absorbs Defender’s counter burst. Repeat “OPEN/CLOSE” for time.

___________

ADVANCED (A3)

DRILL: Slow & GO! - Knees

Groups of 2, Striker, Padholder. On “GO!” send all out Knee Strikes. On “SLOW!” clinch/control/move.

Long Gun Front - Live Side

Machine Gun Takedown (Head Torque)

DRILL - FINAL: Open Close - Machine Gun

Defender, Attacker with Rifle. Everyone else with KS. Defender in middle. On “CLOSE!” Pad holders close in and jostle Defender. Attacker stalks outside. On “OPEN!” the KS holders back off, allowing the Attacker to enter. Attacker points rifle. Depending on flow of defense, Defender wraps and finishes if Live Side, and Machine Gun Takedown if Dead Side. After defense, Attacker covers and absorbs Defender’s counter burst. Repeat “OPEN/CLOSE” for time.

Beginner (A3)

Straight Punches

Elbow #3

Drill: Tombstone pad holder jolts defender from behind with pad. Defender (starting in passive stance) delivers elbow #3, then turns in to deliver a broken flurry of straight punches. Reset & repeat. For added stress, have pad holders jolt the defender from a distance, then offer a handshake (or other non-threatening gesture). Be sure pad holders understand to keep outside of elbow distance for safety.

Choke from behind

Drill: Group of 3. Defender throws broken flurry of straight punches at tombstone pad. 3rd person serves as attacker and chokes defender from behind. Defender performs technique. Pad holder should jolt defender with pad once the defender has reached control position to get the defender back to punching.

Intermediate (A3)

Front (groin) kick w/ an advance

Defense vs. low round kick (shin block)

Focus mitt drill: Focus mitt holder and striker should be wearing shin guards. Pad holder calls any combination they want (1-10), mixing in calls for advancing groin kicks. Pad holder should also throw inside and outside low round kicks at the striker. When striker defends, pad holder should be ready to hold for an immediate counter. Safety note: groin kicks should be thrown lightly to make contact with focus mitts, NOT for power.

Ground - Arm bar from guard

Drill: 2 people wearing shin guards and gloves (MMA preferred, boxing gloves are ok). Going 1-for-1, each partner takes turns throwing an attack of their choosing. They may choose one of the following: (A) combination of their choice ending with a low round kick. (B) Yell "Down!" making their partner fall break (if they know how) and getting into the defender's guard immediately.

If attacker throws strikes, defender works on covering and shin block defense. If attacker gets into guard, defender works the arm bar.

Advanced (A3)

Spinning Heel Kick

Focus mitt combinations: Free work combinations. Mix in calling for spinning heel kicks at the start or finish of combinations to challenge striker's ability to adjust their range. Safety note: kicks to focus mitts must be controlled, NOT for power.

Overhead stick defense - left handed attacker

Drill: Group of 3. Defender and focus mitt holder do the same drill as before but at a faster pace and mixing in random sprawls. 3rd party verbally gets striker's attention and then attacks with left-handed overhead stick. Striker defends, disarms and then continues with pad work.

Beginner (A3)
Movement - Fighting stance moving forward, left, right, and back
Movement exercise - two partners face each other, standing on hands and feet. Knees bent at 90 degrees, knees and hands under hips and shoulders. "Leader" moves forward, back, left, or right; and "follower" must mirror the movement. Have partners hold a focus mitt between their foreheads as they move, with the objective being not to drop the pad. Vary difficulty levels by switching movement patterns: same side hand/foot, opposite hand/foot, etc. and limiting their ability to communicate (round 1 leader can call out direction, round 2 leader can point, round 3 no communication, etc.)
Palm heel strikes
Movement drill: One partner holds tombstone, focus mitts, or both partners wear gloves. Striker moves forwards, backwards, left, and right; punching on each step. Pad holder steps in sync, maintaining orientation and range.
Line drills: striker moves forwards and backwards across the mat, advancing and retreating with the following combinations: 1- jab/jab/cross, 2- jab/cross/jab, 3- cross/cross/jab
Choke from the front (2-handed)
Drill: once the defender finishes choke from the front, they drive a second attacker with a tombstone across the mat using straight punch combinations as above

Intermediate (A3)
Thai pad combos: 1- Jab, Cross, Hook, Block R Body Kick, R Round kick; 2- Jab, R uppercut, L body hook, R low round kick; 3- Jab, L hook, Cross, Block L Body kick, Uppercut, Cross, Hook
Target practice: striker uses partner as a target, setting range and controlling power. R/L mid front kick, R/L mid round kick, R/L leg kick, R/L knees from center clinch. Emphasize efficient footwork and fast pace.
Defense vs. mid front kick
Drill: Round 1- defender tries to redirect front kick, getting attacker's dead side, and counters with light kick to the leg. Round 2 - same kicks as above, but defender counters with kick. Round 3 - Defender may now counter with punches or kicks (3-5 strike combos) to attacker, attacker tries to defend as many counters as possible. Round 4- attacker chooses kicks at random, defender counters. Repeat 5 times and switch.

Advanced (A3)
Zombie drill: groups of 5 or 6. One person from the group is the defender, the others are "zombies." Zombies walk forward with arms outstretched and attempt to touch the defender on the shoulder. Defender may redirect zombies' hands and arms to clear space, and then the zombie has to take two steps in the direction they were pushed before reacquiring the defender.
Stick - overhead defense
Stick - dead side
Zombie drill with evolved zombies: the zombies have evolved and can use rudimentary tools! Select two zombies as stick zombies that can attack with overhead stick attacks. Other zombies can close in while defender is dealing with a stick attacker
Zombie drill with enraged zombies: select one zombie as a "knife zombie," who will attack the defender with multiple knife stabs as soon as they begin defending a stick attack. Once they land one or two blows to the knife zombie (preferably with the stick) the knife zombie stops but the drill continues.