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

 

BEGINNER CLASS

Elbow #1

Knees

Palm Heel Strike

Front Kick to a Vertical Target

Drill: Distance recognition: Pad holder gives a verbal cue at either close range for Elbow #1, mid-range for straight punches, or long range for Front Kick to a Vertical Target. Striker throws appropriate combative followed up by 2 knees.

Drill: Find your partner with bear crawl under pad-holder's legs. Instructor calls "DOWN" and Striker must drop to the ground and bear crawl under partner. Partner sprints to a different spot on the mat as soon as bear crawl almost finished. Striker sprints to pad holder and throws non-stop punches until instructor calls "TIME"

Wrist releases–emphasize disengage, make space, and move to a modified fighting stance

360 Defenses

Drill: Non-compliant attacker: Split groups into A’s and B’s. A’s stand with eyes closed. B’s are roaming attackers and can apply a wrist grab and walk away after defense is made OR can escalate after initial wrist grab defense by throwing a 360 attack.

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Uppercut Punch–emphasize adjusting the length of the uppercut to distance of the target; a standard close uppercut has palm facing self, if target is further away the pinky rotates out and angle of the arm becomes more obtuse to ensure striker is still making contact with first two knuckles.

Defense v. Low Round Kick (shin block)

Focus mitts and Shin guards

Round 1: Combinations 8 (Rear uppercut/lead hook/cross) and 9 (lead uppercut/cross/lead hook)

Round 2: Combinations 1-10; make the last punch of every combination an uppercut, i.e. 3 = jab/cross/lead uppercut

Round 3: Mitt holder can throw low round kick at any time. Striker makes defense v. low round kick (shin block)

Headlock from the Side

Drill: A's-B's-C's: A's are touching B's shoulders or making low round kick. B defends low round kick with shin block. C's are roaming attackers and can apply Headlock from the Side to any B.

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Drill: Monkey in the Middle: 1 defender; 3-4 curved kick shield holders. Pad holders circle defender, and can give a verbal cue or tap. Depending on angle and distance, defender can make any of the following combatives: Front kick to a vertical target, side kick (with or without advance), back kick, defensive back kick with a spin, hammerfist side or behind, elbow to any angle, or straight punch. Pad holders should make sure to tap/verbal cue right away so there is virtually no rest between combatives.

Drill 2: After initial combative, defender follows up with non-stop hand combatives until they receive another tap or verbal cue.

Drill 3: At any time, instructor can call "DOWN!" and Defender must lay down, pad holders dog pile on top. On instructor's "UP!" Defender gets out from under pad holders as quickly as possible and returns to drill.

Advanced Gun -- from the front, assailant using off hand

Advanced Gun -- from the front, assailant pushing

Final drill: Drill 2, except any pad holder can drop pad and apply Advanced Gun -- from the front, assailant using off hand or Advanced Gun -- from the front, assailant pushing. As soon as defender makes defense, they should get a verbal cue/tap from new pad holder.

BEGINNER CLASS 
Palm Heel Strike
Elbow #1
Front Kick (groin)
Cauldron Drill: 1 tombstone pad holder, 1 striker, 3 rounds. Pad holder calls for either "punches," "elbow," or "kick," Striker delivers appropriate combative from the list above once in round 1, twice in round 2 and three times in round three.
Choke from the Front (2-handed)
A/B Drill: half the class is A other half is B. Group B stands in passive stance with eyes shut, Group A attacks anyone in group B with either choke from the front or by presenting a pad for any of the combatives listed above.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS 
Hook Punch
Focus Mitt Drill "Read & React": Round 1: Focus mitt holders swing big looping hooks at strikers. Strikers bob & weave underneath, then throw the appropriate hook punch. Round 2: Focus mitt holders wind-up and throw a straight punch. Strikers slip the punch, then throw the appropriate hook punch. Round 3: Focus mitt holders may throw hooks or straight punches for strikers to read and react to. As the round goes on, mitt holders should progressively tighten up their punches so there is little to no wind-up by the end. Note: Focus mitt holders should not punch faster unless their striker has good recognition with slow punches & no wind-up.
Front kick with Advance (fighting & neutral stance)
Ground - Kick off from Guard
Drill: 1 striker, 1 tombstone pad holder. Striker throws advancing groin kick. Immediately after the kick, pad holder throws the pad off to the side and takes the striker down (basic takedown/tackle) into full guard. Striker must kick off from guard, stand up, then the drill repeats.

ADVANCED CLASS 
Review all Bearhug defenses
Full Nelson - Sweep
Full Nelson - Throw
Full Nelson - Finger Strip
Circle-of-Death Drill: 1 defender standing on a crash pad in passive stance, eyes shut. Rest of class takes turns attacking with any Bearhug or Full Nelson attack. Safety Note: Attacks should happen in quick succession, however, ensure that previous attacker clears the crash mat fully before next attack begins

BEGINNER CLASS

Basic Takedown (Clinch/Framing Position) - have attacker try to move forward and/or change levels; defender should move feet and maintain distance and control

Knees

Drill: work the position as above; give a knee to partner any time you feel balanced and stable enough to deliver a knee safely.

Choke from the Side

Drill: attacker makes Choke from the Side; sometimes, after the initial counterattacks, the attacker continues to press forward; defender should use the framing position to maintain control and continue with counters when stable enough.

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Thai Pads: Combos 3 & 4, using round kicks and knees to finish

Bearhug from the Front, Arms Caught -- emphasize stabilization and balance after the initial reaction and before giving knees. The attacker should sometimes continue driving forward, forcing the defender to maintain balance and assess before delivering knees.

Headlock from the Side, Leaning Backward

Drill: attacker makes bearhug; defender makes the defense; sometimes the attacker says "down" and defender must drop down; attacker makes Headlock from the Side, Leaning Backward; defender defends and gets up.

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Focus Mitts: Right/Left Hook/slip right straight punch, then step and pivot to the left/Right/Left Low Kick

Focus Mitts: Left Hook/Right/slip left straight punch, then step and pivot to the right/Left Hook/Right Low Kick

Review Clinch/Framing position (inside forearm against attacker's neck, etc.). If the attacker tries to go low, transition inside arm so that the hand is grabbing the neck and pushing down and away. From here, give knees, or drive the attacker's head to the ground, or disengage.