Lesson A: Closing the Distance

Warm up – Basic conditioning and motor skill development.

  • Jogging
  • Inside Shuffle
  • Outside Shuffle
  • Alternate Shuffle
  • Carioca
  • Line drills
  • Judo Rolls
  • Break fall and Backwards Roll
  • Side Breakfalls

Pre Technique

  • Push, Pull base assessment
  • Static pummelling
  • Stance change pummelling
  • Competitive pummelling

Technique – Closing the Distance (choose most relevant option for students in attendance)

  • Avoiding Straight Punches
  • Avoiding Overhands and Hooks

Common Mistakes

  • Slipping towards your opponents free hand instead of slipping away from the free hand
  • As you move forward to the clinch you will forget to keep your legs evenly spaced apart

Teaching Tips and Terminology

  • Explain the stance orthodox right handed southpaw left handed
  • Talk through the positioning of the back foot you should have active toes and be ready for action.
  • When defending the overhands and hooks remember to use the term rhino horns to describe the arm positioning
  • As you close the distance remember to swim your arms on your way to the clinch
  • Highlight to use a gable grip and clinch using the belt as a marker as to wear to hold
  • When making a step for the clinch teach them to listen to their opponents heart beat this will put their head in the correct position
  • Sumo base is a good way of describing the position of the legs prior to the take down.

·       Specific Training (choose 1 option)

  • Fight Preparation – play 3-minutes per round and rotate partners once (total of 4 x 3-minute rounds) or play 10 minutes group game, with 2,3, or 4 students in the middle, rotating out as you get beat.
    • Note this is suitable for most general classes
  • Fight Preparation –work in three’s 2 training 1 resting play 3-minutes per round 1 person always completes 2 rounds before change (total of 6 x 3-minute rounds – 2 x 3-minute rounds per game)
    • Note this is suitable for more advanced classes and only to be used in general classes where the overall standard is quite high

Live Training (compulsory)

  • 2 x 5-minute rounds (minimum)
    • Note – if time does not allow, run the class longer to accommodate.
    • If there is more time, allow another 5-minute roll