BEGINNER CLASS

Palm Strikes - Left/Right Combination

Front Kick Vertical Target

Round Kick

Combination: left Front Kick/right Round Kick

Combination: right Front Kick/left Round Kick

Drill: move around, pad holder calls out for either palm strike combination or either kick combination. Be sure to make them exhausted!

Wrist Releases - include discussion of rationale for soft techniques

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Focus Mitts: right hook from deescalation position (modified fight stance)

Drill: make right hook, then follow with two or three combinations called out by partner

Ground - Escape Side Control

Ground - Kick Off from Guard

Forward Roll, Back Fall Break

Drill: make forward roll, back fall break; partner follows and jumps into side control; defender escapes side control to guard, then does Kick Off from Guard

 

ADVANCED CLASS

50/50 Clinch practice - drill to get double under hooks or Thai clinch

One Arm Shoulder Throw

Drill: 50/50 clinch, transition to One-Arm Shoulder Throw (create space, when attacker closes space, shift to throw)

Knife Upward Stab

Drill: 50/50 clinch, attacker disengages right arm and draws knife for upward stab

BEGINNER CLASS

Left/Right Combination

Basic Takedown Defense

Drill: Left/Right Combination; pad holder then pushes forward and defender must hold them off with Basic Takedown Defense

Choke from the Front (2)

Drill: attacker makes Choke from the Front; defender makes the defense; attacker drives forward aggressively, and the defender must make Basic Takedown Defense to control distance. Give knees when possible.

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Focus Mitts: Combinations 6&7

Focus Mitts: Combinations 8 (right upper/left hook/right straight) & 9 (left upper/right straight/left hook)

Self Defense/Framing Position (same as position for knees) and Muay Thai Clinch practice

Drill: make combinations 6 or 7 to focus mitts; pad holder then moves forward aggressively; striker works the clinch, then makes combination 8 0r 9

Light Sparring, hands only

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Sparring: 10 rounds, 1 minute per round, :15 second rest. Do 2 rounds with each partner. At the beginning of each round, one person closes his eyes; partner initiates with an aggressive shove followed by a haymaker; the other person defends, and then the fight is on!

Gun from the Front - under chin, holding hair, shirt, etc.

BEGINNER CLASS

Stance and Movement

Left/Right Combination

Drill: striker makes Left/Right Combination; after the combination, the pad holder "punches" the pad forward to try to touch the striker; striker must move out of range after each combination

Discussing covering/"shelling"

Drill: Left/Right combination; after the combination, the pad holder "punches" the pad forward to touch the defender; defender covers up to defend.

Elbow #1

Drill: as above, but cover covering, the defender makes Elbow #1 (assign right elbow for a while, then left elbow)

360 Defense

Drill: groups of 3; repeat the drill above, but have a second attacker wait on either side. Sometimes this attacker will step in and make 360 attack

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Hook Punch (short lesson, just enough to make sure everyone is punching safely)

Focus Mitts: combinations 1-4

Defense v. Low Kick (shin block)

Drill: pad holder moves around and calls out combinations 1-4; sometimes, pad holder makes low round kick and striker must defend

Headlock from the Side

Drill: as above, but a third person attacks the striker with Headlock from the Side at any time.

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Focus Mitts: Combinations 6 & 7

Knife - Downward Stab; teach the whole technique, but emphasize disengaging if you cannot control the knife

Knife - Upward Stab; teach the whole technique, but emphasize disengaging if you cannot control the knife

Drill: either attack; if you cannot control the knife, disengage and run/create distance

 

BEGINNER CLASS
Strikes from neutral position:
Elbow 1
Punches
Hammerfist to the Side/Behind
Front Kick Groin
Then: Bursting 45 degrees off angle punches from neutral. Emphasize appropriate leg leading the burst and further hand throwing the strike
Drill: Monkey in the Middle. Groups of 3; 2 pad holders and 1 striker. Striker is in center in neutral with eyes closed. Pad holders offer a verbal cue from anywhere 360 around striker, in mid-range. Striker chooses most appropriate initial combative (bursting punch/elbow, hammerfist to the side, or hammerfist behind and then 6 follow-up hand combatives. Have pad holders cue in quick succession and sometimes disrupt with verbal cue before striker completes follow-up combatives.
Choke from the Side
Drill: Same as previous drill, but now pad holders can drop pad and apply Choke from the Side. Defender makes defense and returns back to neutral position with eyes closed.

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Defense v. Low Round Kick (absorb)
Defense v. Low Round Kick (shin block)
Thai Pads and shin guards
Round 1: Free work on the thai pads.
Round 2: Free work + Striker defends against low round kick with either absorb or check. If Striker defending on the outside of their lead leg, defend and counter with Combo #7. If Striker defending against the inside low kick or a low kick to the back leg, defend and counter with Combo #6.
Round 3: Puke round! 30 seconds of power straight punches, 30 seconds of 2 round kicks right and 2 round kicks left, 30 seconds of knees, 30 seconds of speed punches, 30 seconds of check the low round kick and kick back (if checking a low round kick to the outside of the lead leg, then kick back with the lead leg, and if checking against the inside low round kick, kick back with the rear leg).
Ground – Forward roll
Ground – Forward roll, back fall break
Drill: Split partners into A's and B's. A is Defender and stands on one end of mat with curved kick shield on floor in front of them. B is the Attacker stands behind them. B pushes A from behind, and A makes a Forward Roll over the curved kick shield, making sure to use a figure 4 position with legs to finish facing B. Once A makes the forward roll, B picks up the kick shield, walks quickly to A, and holds for hand combatives until instructor calls "TIME!" Switch roles back and forth.
Drill: Now, pad is a little further in front of A. When A feels the push, A runs to pad and makes a Forward roll, back fall break. B sprints after A, picks up the pad and holds for Front Kick from the Ground from Level 1. A then makes a tactical get-up and throws non-stop hand combatives until instructor calls "TIME!" Switch roles back and forth.

ADVANCED CLASS
Spinning Heel Kick
Partner and Kick Shield
1 2 minute round of target recognition each
Combative Stations: Multiple Lines of 5 or so depending on numbers (add G&P to a pad if you need to even the group numbers up). One minute at each station, non-stop, as hard and fast as possible. 10 seconds to transition to next pad. After full rotation, pad holders and strikers switch roles.
Round 1 Stations:
-Straight punches
-Front kick groin
-2 round kicks right, 2 round kicks left
-Knees
-2 punches to an elbow
Round 2 Stations:
-2 palms to an elbow
-Round kick to a sprawl
-Forward Hammerfists
-Spinning Heel Kick
-2 punches to a burpee
Drill: Spinning Heel Kick Challenge! Have students see who can throw the most spinning heel kicks to pad.
Knife – defense v. upward stab. Emphasize attackers recoiling knife after 360/making sewing needle movement in a realistic stabbing motion.
Knife – defense v. forward slash
Drill: A/B drill. Attackers can make Upward Stab or Forward Slash. If defender does not securely control the weapon after redirect, attacker can change angle of attack from Upward Stab to Forward Slash or vice versa.

BEGINNER CLASS
Fighting Stance
Punches – Left/Right Combination
Knees (regular & round)
Drill: Cauldron. 1 striker, 1 tombstone pad holder. Pad holder calls for “punches,” “kicks,” or “sprawl”. Round 1: striker performs 1 left/right combo for punches. 1 groin kick for kicks, and 1 sprawl with a knee strike on sprawls. Round 2: everything doubles. Round 3: everything triples.
360 Defense
Drill: A/B drill. Half the class is group A, others are group B. Group A stands in passive stance with eyes shut. Group B randomly attacks with outside looping punches. Safety note: Attackers must verbally get defender’s attention BEFORE swinging at defender (i.e. defender should have time to open their eyes and recognize attack)

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Ground – high back fall break
Ground – forward roll
Ground – forward roll, back fall break
Ground – headlock side (weight forward)
Ground – headlock side (weight backward)
Drill – Students break into groups of three, with one tombstone per group. Once the attacker begins a side headlock, the padholder starts counting. Once the defender gets up, they deliver upper body strikes to the tombstone for the same length of time the padholder counted. Repeat.

ADVANCED CLASS
Thai Pads form opposite stance- 2-3 minute rounds, double up on the last technique of each combination (Focusing on Power)
Advanced Gun- from the front assailant pushing, slapping, kicking
Advanced Gun- from the front assailant using off hand
Drill: Groups of 3-4, non-stop Gun threats; 2 rounds- first round 50% speed and power, second round- Fast, Strong and aggressive!!

BEGINNER CLASS

Palm Heel Strike

Drill: flurries of strikes on command

Hammerfist to the Side

Drill: eyes closed; pad holder pushes from either side, defender reacts with Hammerfist to the Side then continues with Palm Heel Strike until pad holder calls "Time!"

Choke from Behind

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

3 Round Drill to tombstone pad: round 1 -- left/right, one groin kick, one round kick, one sprawl with a knee; round 2 -- double everything; round 3 -- triple everything

Front Kick with Advance

Drill: eyes closed, passive stance; pad holder shoves defender and steps back; defender reacts with Advancing Front Kick

Bearhug Front, Arms Caught

Drill: eyes closed, either pad drill as above OR Bearhug Front, Arms Caught

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Focus Mitts: 2 rounds of 3 minutes, emphasize footwork and distance control (moving in and out)

Spinning Heel Kick

Focus Mitts: 1 round of 3 minutes, include basic combinations and sometimes call for Spinning Heel Kick

Gun from the Front

Gun from the Front, 2 Handed Technique

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: 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).

Defense v. Front Kick (redirect)

Defense v. Low Round Kick (absorb)

Defense v. Low Round Kick (shin block)

Drill: 3-step Isolation Sparring: A attacks B with 3 combatives in succession: the Low Round Kick with either leg or a lead hand straight punch. B can defend the low round kick with absorb or shin block and defends the jab with inside defense from Level 1. After defending, B will immediately attack A with the above in any order.

Drill: 3-step Isolation Sparring Round 2: Attacker can make low round kick with either leg, front kick with either leg, or jab.

Drill: 3-Step Isolation Sparring Round 3: Attacker can make low round kick with either leg, front kick with either leg, jab, or cross.

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
Front Kick to Vertical Target
Drill: 1 attacker, 1 striker. Attacker with kick shield advances towards defender. Defender throws front kick to vertical target and then follows up with 3-5 combatives. 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.
Ground - Back Position
Ground - Front Kick
Ground - Getting Up
Drill: 1 attacker, 1 striker. Strikers start on the ground in back position ~2 meters away from attacker. Drill starts when attacker advances on striker. Striker must deliver front kick in order to create enough space to safely get up. Strikers may deliver multiple front kicks (if necessary) and move on the ground away from attackers after kicking in order to get enough space to stand up. Once standing, strikers should follow-up with combatives. Note: Attackers should be persistent and always advance at the same speed during each round. Attackers should adjust their speed to help train strikers for success.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Uppercut Punch
Headbutt Upward
Headbutt Forward
Focus Mitt Drill: Round 1 - Combos 8 (uppercut/hook/straight) & 9 (uppercut/straight/hook). Round 2 - Cross/Uppercut/Headbutt & Lead Hook/Uppercut/Headbutt. Round 3 - Freework (pad holder should call for headbutts regularly)
Bearhug Front Arms Free (space)
Bearhug Front Arms Free (neck leverage)
A/B Drill: Half the class attacks, half defends. Defenders stand in passive stance, eyes closed. Attackers bearhug any defender from the front arms free (space & neck leverage)

ADVANCED CLASS
Spinning Heel Kick
Advanced Gun - under the chin, in mouth, holding hair (etc.)
Advanced Gun - from behind, attacker close (hug defense)
Circle-Of-Death: All self-defenses levels 1-3 along with both gun defenses listed above. Attacks should come in rapid succession (i.e. next attack starts the second defender gets to control position.

BEGINNER CLASS

Choke from the Front (2 handed)

Straight Punches

Drill: flurries of punches ("Go" and "Time" on instructor command)

Groin Kick - after the basic lesson, practice from a neutral position

360 (don't emphasize simultaneous counterattack, but the defender can control and give knees, etc.)

Drill: eyes closed, attacker either makes Choke from the Front OR pushes the defender and makes a 360 attacker

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Focus Mitt Combos:

Combo #2/slip left jab/Right/Left Hook

Combo #3/slip right/Left Hook/Right

Combo #4/pull back from left jab/Right/Left Hook

Ground - Headlock Forward

Ground - Headlock Back

Ground - Headlock Bridge Over

Drill: attacker resisting, the defender must escape the headlock!

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Thai Pads: 3 rounds of 3 minutes each, with 1 minute rest; emphasize covering between combos -- the pad holder should throw jabs and hooks with the pads, the striker should remain covered.

Knife - Forward Slash

Knife - Back Slash

Drill: eyes closed, verbal signal, either forward or backward slash; SOMETIMES, instead of a verbal signal, the attacker should shove the defender.

BEGINNER CLASS

Movement- Shadow Boxing

Palm Heel Strike

Palm Heel Strike from Mount

Drill: Groups of 2, one Large shield and a small shield; striker; palm heel strikes from mount on instructor’s signal “UP” stand up and continue with palm heel strikes from standing on pad; on instructor’s signal “DOWN”, mount pad and continue with strikes.

Knees

Choke from Behind

Drill: Non-stop knees, defend choke from behind

 

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

Tai Pads: 4 Rounds of 2 Min.

Round 1- Combinations, include kicks, elbows and knees

Round 2- Ground- Grappling/Rolling (submissions only, NO strikes)

Round 3- Combinations, include kicks, elbows, knees and Sprawls

Round 4- Ground- Grappling/Rolling (submissions only, NO strikes)

Knife- defense v. straight stab

Knife- defense v. Forward slash