Back to Boxing…(sort of)

We now have three months until I take the cho dan confirmation test. Here’s the breakdown of what’s on the school’s agenda until then:

• At least one more round of student testing this Wed.
• A possible tournament in April
• If we do a tourney I’m probably going to try my nunchuka kata and maybe breaking. Past that I’ll probably coach the new students.

Sabum needs a break. We have two advanced hours each week. So, on our Wed. advanced class we are going to continue to work on that which I’ll be tested on. However, on Mondays I’m giving Sabum some boxing lessons. It’s a great way for me to shake off rust and it also teaches her some things she’d not pick up in taekwondo.

Last night I broke out the rope drill. Take 30′ of rope and hang it just a little below head punch height. Then move forward and slip under while you keep moving. It allows you to practice slipping punches, forward movement, footwork, and rhythm. Next week I’m bringing 10 lb weights to make it harder for her to keep her fists up. Eventually we’ll add punches after the slip.

The second drill was a focus mitt drill which worked slipping and counter punching. Basically I threw a two hook pattern with the mitts while she slipped. Then I presented her with a target. Mitts facing meant her response should be a jab, reverse, or combo of both. Mitts to the side and her counter should be a hook. Eventually we’ll work in uppercuts and maybe even knee strikes (double mitts low) or round kicks (double mitts to either of my shoulders). The eventual goal of this drill is to take it from standing to moving which simulates a ring setting. If you want to make this one harder have the puncher wear head gear and come at them hard with the mitts. Here’s a video of this particular drill at full speed:

The last drill is a very simple reaction time drill for the jab. The target (i.e. me) keeps their hands six to 12 inches apart. The puncher tries to throw a jab and withdraw to the ready position without getting caught. The key is to be relaxed so you do not telegraph the jab. I have to say that Sabum was very good at this and I think it comes from all the years in taekwondo. There were very few times I could catch her jab. There is something to be said for taekwondo’s emphasis on quick re-chambers. This lesson she has down so I’m going to scratch this drill and maybe put together some basic flow drills from wing chun.

Something must have worked because my core, upper shoulders, and upper back are all sore from these drills!

~BCP