In the first article I started to discuss the benefits of developing the techniques’ actions by understanding their application, thus learning to think in terms of tasks, which is fundamental to act instinctively in combat.
Now, we’ll take a closer look of how to accomplish that in terms of developing the strikes.
I find that, when it comes to strikes with a striking weapon, there are two main criteria that guide us in terms of action purpose: distance and trajectory (obtained as a consequence of target placement).
Since this art specializes in terms of long distance strikes and, for shorter distances, we opt to focus on just one type of technique and adjust the weapon’s length, we’ll focus on the development of the strikes’ trajectory.
After starting by practicing the initiation drills focused during lesson one which are intended to introduce practitioners to the principal of rotating the weapon to one side in order to strike on the opposite side, one needs to continue the learning process by addressing the development of different strikes’ trajectories.
This way, if one practices the strikes against the real live body of a training partner under the motivation of striking specific areas of his body (top of the head, side of the knees, side of the ribcage), one starts to understand the influence that the targets’ positioning have on the strike.
Hence, to strike the top of the head one needs a vertical descending strike, whereas to strike the side of the knee one needs a lateral descending strikes and, finally, to hit the side of the ribcage one required a lateral ascending strike.
The only down side of this type of practice is that whenever one performs the strikes against the partner’s body, one needs to control the strike. The reason for me to say that this may be a downside is that, at this point of the learning process, the practitioners benefit from performing the strike without much control in order to get a better feel for it.
Consequently, I find that performing the drill by having the partner hold his weapon in different positions for the person performing the strikes to strike it with a perpendicular strike in relation to the target (in order to safeguard the hands of the person holding the target), allows a good combination of practicing the strikes under a target positioning context and with fluid, non controlled strikes.
Oblique Descending Strike
Oblique Ascending Strike
Horizontal Strike
Vertical Descending Strike
Wrong Exercise, striking the wrong side
Note that, when applying this to batons, it is safer to have the person holding the target, hold a staff so as to have more distance between his or her hands and thus having a higher reaction time interval to change their placement, if the partner performs the strike incorrectly (as he or she is also still learning theses actions and thus susceptible to making some mistakes).
Learning the attacks on the Dominant Side - Learning the attacks on the Non Dominant Side
Learning the attacks, consolidation (Random practice)
Have you questioned yourself about the best way to organize the practice drills intended to develop the art’s techniques?
Obviously, that the answer to this question depends on a varied of conditions. Is you goal to correct the technique or to enhance its memorization? How should you manage the practice on these two scenarios?
If you happen to be interested on my view on this topic check out next month’s article.
Wishing you all the continuation of fun and successful training.
