Saturday, 8 September 2012

Week 53: Back strikes

Warmed up with a nice no grip clinching drill. For 3 weeks running we have done something similar and for 3 weeks my neck, 3 days after training is still tighter than a Jock’s wallet. This is due to using the head as another controlling limb. I am still amazed at how little this is utilised in the MMA I watch on TV.

This moved into clinching from the knees with the aim of getting your partner’s shoulders to the matt. I made some decent success in the first few rounds then I met Shoib (sp?) who managed to bundle me on my back at will. I tried having a low and alive base. I know size should not matter but he is considerably bigger than me and thus more successful. Perhaps I need to work under his base and be more creative in attack.

Several of us helped to put Angel through his paces in prep for his first amateur MMA scarp in a few weeks. The final minute of the 15 can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2mpZG1Yv24&feature=g-upl

The main part of the lesson focussed on attacking after you have put yourself in a vulnerable position. The round kick was our primary attack with which we had to land in front and across our centre; the side and back is now exposed for an attack from you partner.

We looked at the following attacking options from the landed round kick:

Outward strike (turn the lead foot to begin the motion, follow with the hips and then the arm)

Back elbow (shift weight from the rear to front foot as you thrust the elbow strike to the face)

Back kick (lean the head away, pick the knee up right up to the collar bone and extend out with the strike)

Spinning back strike (as it says on the tin)

Heads punches and purposely playing Sugar Ray. Lee told us of the final fight between Sugar Ray and Hagler and this strategy was employed, very successfully, several times throughout the fight. I am still too far from being good at the basics to consider this but it has planted a little seed…

Free form with Simon: Ended the session with some stand up sparring. Need to let the hands go. When I watch everyone else spar the hands attack freely. I seem incapable of a multi pinch and multi hand combo. Too defensive and cognitive. Time to be more fluid and accepting.

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