Krav Maga Class 122: shoulder tag, thai pads, back kick, choke review

Brandon’s Saturday morning class. I bought a new tshirt from Christian and was late to the warmup, and it was great!

We did some shoulder tag and the usual warmup calisthenics. I paired up with Daniel (the newish guy) and we got thai pads and went at it. I really need to work on my hip flexibility.

Then we did back kicks on the kick shield. After some warming up, we followed them up with combatives.

At the end, we briefly reviewed level 1 chokes and stuff before class ended.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 122: shoulder tag, thai pads, back kick, choke review

Krav Maga Class 121: shoulder tag, kicking and kick combos

Curtis taught this Saturday morning class, and he was not kind.

We started with the NASCAR warmup, then lunges/bearcrawl/crabwalks across the mat, then shoulder tag and aerobics in a circuit, then stretch with more aerobics afterward.

We then paired up and got a tombstone pad for our group of 3 (me, Dave, and Eric). We started kicking the pad, and immediately Eric tapped out due to a leg injury. So it was just me and Dave. We did groin kick, then round kick, then front/side/back kicks, then question mark kicks. Then we did combos. Several rounds, with aerobics at the end of the striking to make sure we were tired.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 121: shoulder tag, kicking and kick combos

Krav Maga Class 120: shoulder tag, thai pads, knees, sparring

Brandon’s Saturday morning class got going before I got on the mat. I was listening to TJ’s story about his arm, and how he’s going to need surgery but he can’t get it now because he’s stabilizing his workplace in a time of turbulence and chaos. I got into jumping jacks, and what seemed like a very brief and easy warm up that included shoulder tag. Then we paired off into partners with thai pads, and I got paired with Ethan, who’s a tall skinny teen blue belt. He came into class with black jeans, a concert tshirt, and his iphone in his pocket. He wore MMA gloves and didn’t bring a mouth guard. His thai pad combinations were all straight punches, and he stood southpaw and insisted on reversing the order of right-only then left-only kicks after the punching combinations. I had to go very easy on the kicks because I would knock the pads into his face if I went very hard.

Next was knee strikes. He was very sloppy and didn’t put much pressure on me at all, and I was able to just walk away if I wanted to. I did once, just to see. I told him to get heavier and get that forearm up against me. At least his knee strikes were noticeable through the pad. Then it was my turn and I showed him what I meant. He was holding the pad away from his body, so I guess he was feeling those knees even though I was going fairly light and conserving energy. We drove each other across the mat and back with knee strikes, then we geared up for combat.

The first rounds of sparring was just one person attacking and the other defending. I got hit with a good upper cut when I was expecting a hook, so I learned from that. I also was reminded that slipping inside leaves your head exposed to power punches, so that’s a real bad idea.

Then we sparred 20% each side. Ethan and I landed some good shots on one another. Apparently I leave my body open a lot.

Next round was with Ivan, who was suffering from allergies. He kept me away with some good body kicks, which didn’t feel good. I didn’t do as bad as I usually do against him.

Then I sparred with Dave, who clinched and messed me up pretty good.

Last was Susan, who joined me in going very very light.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 120: shoulder tag, thai pads, knees, sparring

Krav Maga Class 119: rope jumping, shoulder tag, belt pull striking, focus mitts, peripheral awareness, stacking multiple attackers

Curtis taught this Saturday morning class. We started with NASCAR running and turning left, then got jump ropes and started jumping, alternating with shoulder tag. I really suck at jumping rope, and kept hitting myself in the back of the head with my rope. It was exhausting. I guess I need to practice jumping rope.

We then teamed up and did belt pull striking. I held the pad for Rick, and he pulled the belt for me. I did alright, but Sangeeta felt so sorry for me that she went and brought me a Gu.

Next we got focus mitts and I paired up with Daniel. He needed work on not telegraphing his uppercut, and I needed to follow through on my punches despite him holding the pads way out in front of his body.

Then we did an attention drill where someone would hold mitts while the one behind them would hold up fingers or feet and the striker would have to call out the number of fingers or the side toward which the foot was raised.

The last drill was a multiple attackers drill, with stacking. Rick took it to the next level by pretending to come over the top with an imaginary chair or something. It was fun and scary.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 119: rope jumping, shoulder tag, belt pull striking, focus mitts, peripheral awareness, stacking multiple attackers

Krav Maga Class 118: epic running, getting punched in the face lessons, belt pull, knee strikes, choke defenses, getting up from the ground, stress drill

Pam taught this Saturday morning class. I was coming off my first week with two BJJ classes since June, so my reserves were low. I also didn’t have much breakfast (just an early bowl of cottage cheese) so I ran out of energy really quickly, like in the first 3 minutes of class. I’ll harp on that throughout the description of the class, because it was important.

We started out running around the mat. I was behind Ivan, and he was going FAST! I tried to kind of keep up, but it was exhausting. By the time we started high knees, I knew I was in for some suffering. Pam was trying to figure out her music situation, and we went around a few times with high knees before she switched it up, but by that time I was already gassed. But I kept going, and we kept going, and finally, eventually, blessedly it was over.

Get water and come back with a partner and a belt. I got a yellow belt and grabbed Cory on his way back onto the mat, making him run first. Back and forth across the mat sprinting for 2 minutes, while our partner slowed us down by pulling on the belt which was wrapped around our waist. We got little rest breaks at the end as we turned around, and it was exhausting, but I can sprint way better than I can run steadily, so it wasn’t so bad.

Next we got a kick shield and held for knees and solid side control. 2 minutes each. Then we went back and forth across the mat, driving our partner back using knee strikes.

Kick shields away, we did defenses against all level 1 and level 2 chokes, including bear hugs.

Then we stood in front of each other and went 5 for 5 punching each other in the face, then in the body, then both. Cory is really nice about it.

Then we got in our ground fighting stance and repeatedly got up. We did a drill doing front kick from the ground, including mobility to defend against a circling attacker.

At the end, we had one person get in the middle on the ground, and a padholder would approach. They had to kick them away, then get up and attack. The rest of the people would hit with a pad for combative targets, or apply a choke and the middle person would have to do the defense. I was very last before the BJJ folks took the mat.

EDIT: It took everything out of me. I hit the wall in this class and kept on running. All afternoon, I was incapacitated and broke into tears a couple of times because I felt bad that I couldn’t tackle all my responsibilities because I was in such bad shape.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 118: epic running, getting punched in the face lessons, belt pull, knee strikes, choke defenses, getting up from the ground, stress drill

Krav Maga 117: focus mitts, gun from behind, gun from side, ground and pound stomp circuit

Curtis taught this Saturday morning class. We started with NASCAR again – everybody running in a left turn. Typical warm up with shadow boxing and shoulder tag, then a few lunges and crawls across the mat, then stretching.

Next was gloves and focus mitts. I paired up with Susan, and she showed off her superiority at holding the pads. I really need to practice that more. Anyway, I did okay, but every time she ended a combo with a body shot, it hit me. I blocked maybe 10-15% of them even after I decided to focus on doing that. That’s a big hold that I need to close up.

After that, by Susan’s request, we did gun from behind. Look over your shoulder to identify where the gun is, turn your body to clear the line of fire, then burst in deep and underhook the gun arm while delivering an elbow to the face. Clamp their arm to your chest with the gun pointing out, then turn your shoulders toward them to twist their shoulder, keep them in sight, and open up your angle of attack. Attack them to soften them and get their minds off the gun, then reach over and “ice cream scoop” the gun from their hand, being careful not to point it at yourself. Once you’ve removed it from their hand, you can hammer fist them with it as you break contact and make space. Back up, tap and rack the gun, and get ready to use it if necessary.

Comments Off on Krav Maga 117: focus mitts, gun from behind, gun from side, ground and pound stomp circuit

Krav Maga Class 116: Saranya quits BJJ, epic warmup, epic tombstone punching, bob and counter, epic sparring, plank bananas to the end

Today was the day that Saranya quit BJJ. I am disappoint.

Curtis’ Saturday morning class started with running. And more running. It felt like NASCAR. I was getting dizzy. We phased into shoulder tag, alternating with different exercises.

Once that was over, we partnered up and grabbed a tombstone pad. We did three rounds of straight punches or palm strikes alternating with flurries of the same. I paired with Eric Maas and we explored the limits of his cardio. We also discovered that my palm strikes are a lot harder than my punches, because I don’t need to stabilize my wrist or align my knuckles for palm strikes.

After we were both worn out, we got focus mitts and practiced bobbing under a right hook, then added a left hook counter, until we were almost dead.

Then we put on headgear and got down to sparring. 40-50% power. I started against Eric, and we both knocked each other’s heads around a bit. Then I paired up with Ray, and he got a lecture from Curtis about not just playing tag, but landing solid punches. After that I went against Calvin, Daniel, Richard, and Ivan. Saranya said I did pretty good, and against the smaller and less experienced guys, I did. However, I got chewed up by Eric and Ivan. I was able to hold my own against Eric for some of the time, but Ivan’s a lot better than me, and he staggered me with a body shot as I was getting too aggressive.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 116: Saranya quits BJJ, epic warmup, epic tombstone punching, bob and counter, epic sparring, plank bananas to the end

Krav Maga Class 115: lungemania, getting punched in the face lessons, epic level 1 choke drills, outside chokes in a chair

Pam taught this Saturday morning class. We started with running around, shuffling inside and outside, high knees and buttkickers. Then we switched to lunges around the mat. After that was across the mat and back with inchworms, lunges with knees, and side lunges with pivots. Loads of lunges, but I was the first finished most every time across. I pushed myself hard and paid for it afterward, but that’s how it goes. At least I didn’t get dizzy like last week.

After that, we put in our mouth guards and took turns punching each other in the face. I paired up with Corey, and he went easy on me, so I went easy on him too. We did a session of 5 for 5 to the face, then 5 for 5 to the body, then 5 for 5 kicks to the upper legs and to the body. Easy.

After that we split the class in half (actually a group of 5 and a group of 6 with me in it). We took turns with one victim and the rest attackers, applying level 1 chokes and the defenses, for about 3 minutes each. Even going slow and light, it was very tiring. I went 2nd, and it took me halfway through round 3 to recover.

When that was done, we went out back with chairs and simulated being attacked from behind while sitting, and trying to apply the principles of the defenses even in a disadvantaged position and caught by surprise.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 115: lungemania, getting punched in the face lessons, epic level 1 choke drills, outside chokes in a chair

Krav Maga Class 114: shadow boxing, ground and pound, knee on belly, thai pads, rnc defense, gun defenses

Christian taught this Saturday morning class, and it was a doozy. We started with a shadow boxing circuit alternating ground and pound, guard and pound, and knee on belly flurries with a kick shield on the ground. Then the thai pads with combos, adding in an overhand right knockdown followed by knee on belly ground and pound, then a padholder knockdown followed by guard and pound with a get-up at the end. I was dying.

After that was headlock defenses review, getting ready for a rear naked choke defense lesson. We went through all the steps alone, then got in a group. It went fine. The drill at the end had us doing rolls for a minute followed by a back attack. Not bad, but my lungs seemed to lack the proper capacity to feed my brain with oxygen. I still have a cough from GENCON 50.

At the end we did gun defenses from the front, using either left or right hand to deflect the gun. Then we went to the front tables and used the tables as part of the disarm. Apparently if you drag a guy’s hand between the gun and a table, it hurts like hell and they can’t hold onto the gun. Then we did gun defenses across the kids room viewing window, as if we were sitting in a car, and used the window frame to assist in disarming the gunman.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 114: shadow boxing, ground and pound, knee on belly, thai pads, rnc defense, gun defenses

Krav Maga Class 113: thai pad combos, sparring

Brandon’s Saturday morning class. I’m trying to remember this after a week, because I’ve been taking care of my dad and he’s a downright bastard to care for. We started with shadow boxing and shoulder tag, did some thai pad work, did some kick combos, and then did some full contact sparring.

Comments Off on Krav Maga Class 113: thai pad combos, sparring