Drilling for Success!
To all, How many practice their art in drill fashion? That is to say; how often and what type of drills do you do? Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, Examples of drills I perform. Here is a solo drill of an individual kick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXpao_0rbf0 Here is an example of a solo drill of two similar kicks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPimQ58dQvc While here is an example of a two man block and counter drill. (And yes, I really did mean to put a pause between my block and counter. ) :-D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaDZ6VTc1uY Regards, MrE2Me2

Mr E2 Me2 We do lots of drills. Sometimes solo. Often with a partner in both tradtional, and more often, sparring form. We use pads for doing drills as well. Lets say, 20 roundhouse kicks with the right leg, drop and do 20 push ups. 20 roundhouse kicks with the left leg, 20 push ups. 20 left front kicks, 20 sit ups, 20 right front kicks 20 sit ups. 20 left jab/ right punches , 30 jumping jacks............ etc. the push ups and sit ups in between are just killer......... sifu shawn

Hello Sifu Shawn, Thank you for your response. I have found that various types of drills have different effects. I too, use the ones you describe (and I’m sure you use lots of other types as well. I always make sure I do them on both sides, as well. As an aside, do you practice your forms on both sides? Regards, MrE2Me2

Mr E2Me2, I have done kempo 1 in the reverse side( actually myself and a fellow black belt started working on a tournament concept, nothing original but still kind of cool, where we started side by side, he did kempo the "regular way" and I was doing it the opposide side. Because we are of similar stature it was supposed to be a "mirror image" effect. It was kind of cool. Unfortunately my partner seems to be one of the many who drop out of regular training after a few years. And thus my plan for world domination came to an end. However,back to your original question (Im getting older, its easy for me to get side tracked. did you see the latest episode of..... woops sorry , side tracked again...) as a rule of thumb I do not practice forms on both sides. :oops: sifu shawn

I start the skill class or as my students refer to it as kill class. We do a light warm up. Then we start with fallout technique 30 on both sides. Followed by throat chock 30 on both sides, back hand strikes 30 on both sides, horse stance with thrust punches. 200, The last ten with sound focus. Then we move on to front snap kick 30 on both sides, after that we go into a left bow stance we will do our rising block downward block ,inside hooking blocks 30 of each. Slide stepping forward into a right bow stance we will do our reverse hooking outside forearm cross downward blocks 30 of each. Then we will do our snap punch 50 from a horse stance or a bow stance. After that we go into our stretching .We stretch a good 15 to 20 min. Then it is back into a horse stance we will do horse stance with breathing 5 in all. Here comes the fun stuff 20 or 30 side kicks on both sides right after drop to the floor 30 push up 30 sit-ups. 20 or 30 roundhouse kicks on both sides right after drop to the floor 30 push ups 30 crunches reverse roundhouse 20 or 30 on both sides right after drop to the floor 30 push ups 30 leg raise 30 scissors’ Then we will go into a low back stance shift from one side to the other 30 in all. Then we will hold the push up position for one min right after that we will hold our leg raise 6 inches from the floor for one min. spinning back kicks 10 on both sides. . This is all don in 1 hour. Then we have a half hour to work on our sparring or grappling or forms or self defense you get the point. WE do these 5 times a week. We will close the class with zazen. Muscle memory.

To all, Sifu Shawn, you talked about your ideas with Kempo 1. They sound interesting. I have done some work on the reverse side but not as much as I should. I am much inspired by your workouts, Sifu Shawn and Sifu Sblano. I cut the lawn yesterday. It usually takes me an hour. But I pushed it and it took me 47 minutes (including gassing up). This was my workout today. My solo workout was 58 minutes long today. 4 sets of 24 rear forefist thrusts against the heavy bag on both sides (192 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 6 slide in front kicks against the heavy bag on both sides (48 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 24 rear forefist shovel hooking thrusts against the heavy bag on both sides (192 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 6 slide in offset roundhouse kicks against the heavy bag on both sides (48 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 24 rear overhand forefist thrusts against the heavy bag on both sides (192 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 6 slide in roundhouse kicks against the heavy bag on both sides (48 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 24 lead forefist thrusts against the heavy bag on both sides (192 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 6 slide in side kicks against the heavy bag on both sides (48 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 24 lead shovel hooking forefist thrusts against the heavy bag on both sides (192 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 6 slide in back swing kicks against the heavy bag on both sides (48 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 24 lead overhand forefist thrusts against the heavy bag on both sides (192 reps) 1 minute rest 4 sets of 6 slide in back thrust kicks against the heavy bag on both sides (48 reps) 1 minute rest 2 sets of 144 lead arm basic blocks with 2 lb. dumb bells (288 reps) 1 minute rest 2 sets of 144 rear arm basic blocks with 2 lb. dumb bells (288 reps) 1 minute rest Totals 1152 forefist thrusts on the heavy bag 288 slide in kicks on the heavy bag 576 basic blocks with 2 lb. dumb bells 2016 reps in 58 minutes That’s an average of 34.76 reps per minute…but who’s counting? :-D (Heart rate maintained between 120 B.P.M. and 140 B.P.M.) Regards, MrE2Me2

I do drills, more 2 man than 1 man. (For my students anyhow) I like to tell my students that they are here for knowledge and the developement of skill is homework. If they don't practice at home, they will be sloppy and they will not pass their sash tests. I am always available for phone calls and they are more than welcome to ask questions during their next private lesson. This works well for letting me know who is dedicated to their training and who is not going to make it, and it lets me know very early on. The 2 man drills are to develope timing and familiarity with attack/defend using a live opponant. One two man drill I do alot of is to have them face one another. 1-A) attacks with a thrust punch to solar plexes 2-B) blocks the attack with a downward palm from chinese cross. B then attacks using the same hand with a vertical punch to the face. 3-A) blocks the vertical punch with an inside hooking block using the hand they previously did the thrust punch with. 4-B) delivers a thrust punch using the other hand. 5-A) blocks the thrust punch using the same hand they just did an inside hooking block with but using a downward palm from chinese cross. SO it's a repeating sequence of: 1-Thrustpunch (right arm) 2-Inside Hooking block (right arm) 3-Downward palm/chinese cross (right arm) 4-Vertical punch (right arm) 5-Thrustpunch (left arm) etc - this is 1 again... One person starts on 1 the other starts on 3. This drill never has a victor, it also goes in a loop so it ends based on time (15-20 minutes ussually, sometimes more) I then have them practice 3 steps away and 3 steps towards during the sequence as well as circling each other clockwise and counterclockwise while doing the drill. Later they can move as they will so long as each person maintains the range and contact. This teaches them to flow with their opponant. It takes alot of mental focus to avoid messing up while doing the drill and moving. This is one reason I like to have my students train it. Personally I am working on so many forms and a couple iron techniques, so that I rarely do that many drills myself. I keep my kicks and strikes sharp, but the forms contain alot of the motions/techniques and after a good session doing forms I am ussually worked out well. Weapons like Kwan Dao leave my shoulders and forearms burning nicely after an hour of practice. The dummy form keeps my hands fast and my arms conditioned. I also make use of stances and stance transfers in almost everything I do. When I am cleaning the kitchen floor I don't sweep and mop, I move quickly around in cat stances and horse stances etc while I work. I do staff thrusts with the broom, or sweep holding the broom with one hand at the very end of the handle for a good wrist strengthener. You can develope your kung fu in almost anything you do if you are in the habit of doing so.

Hello North, You posted, “I like to tell my students that they are here for knowledge and the developement of skill is homework.” I tell my people pretty much the same thing. You posted, “The 2 man drills are to develope timing and familiarity with attack/defend using a live opponant.” I agree and would say that there was a time in the not too distant past when two man drills were the only way to practice. If one wanted to test their abilities; then they dueled (not something I’d recommend). You gave an excellent example of a drill and you posted, “This drill never has a victor”. That is neat and very close to what I tell my people as well. You posted, “You can develope your kung fu in almost anything you do if you are in the habit of doing so.” Absolutely true! Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, Here is a drill designed to improve both the skip in side kick and the side kick catch. The attacker sets up in a left leading horse stance. The defender faces him in a right forward bow. They are at full distance and the defenders hands are set in lead low rear high posture. The attacker skips in and side kicks the defender in the sternum. The defender shuffles back ever so slightly and catches the attackers kick. They reset and repeat down the length of the room. Do it on both sides with both parties being the attacker and then the defender. Tips: Make sure that the kick is close enough and swift enough to cause serious damage if not controlled. Make sure the catch is solid enough to immobilize the attacker. Do not “chase” the kick but let it come to you. Kick like you mean it and once caught, briefly attempt to pull away. Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, Here is a link to some vids of two man drills. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=225A0D23643C6F15 I use a specific mind set when I do these. First: Both parties must be clear on their respective roles. It is important to practice both offensive and defensive roles. It is also important to practice on both sides (although the vids show only one side). Second: When the attacker strikes, he must commit to the move and execute it with a willingness to land it. Start slowly and build in power and speed gradually or there will be wasted motions. This also means that the attacker must be in range to land the movement or this drill won’t work well. Third: All fourteen drills that are linked here were practiced well within 10 minutes (on both sides). It took me much longer to edit them than it took to shoot them. The point is to be so familiar with them that a participant can go through them all. Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE

To all, Here are some examples of a drill that I call, “Catch Me”. The premise is simple; The trainer and the student agree on what strike is to be used (lead, rear or alternate). The student calls out, “Ready!” The trainer calls out, “Ready!” The student attempts to strike the pad. They reset after one strike (hit or miss). The purposes are: It develops confidence in one’s ability to snap out a jab without pre movement. Also it teaches that a punch with the rear arm can be seen coming. And when combined, the possibility of either arm can mask the rear arm, just a bit. Anyway here they are: With the lead arm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fniX_upV8Pg With the rear arm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxzw45XLi_M With either arm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxzw45XLi_M Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, Here is another drill designed specifically to enhance the counter punch. Block the air with the lead hand. Then counter to the pad. The counter punch (done “lock-out” fashion): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_NCt_mPEWg The Mantis block with counter punch to the pad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9jUV9g4emQ The Rising block with counter punch to the pad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcNKXZZuWSU The Inside block with counter punch to the pad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4SCIM0VKwk The Outside palm block with high counter punch to the pad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=greB6mZa2PA The Outside palm block with low counter punch to the pad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9SNENdOtiw Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE

To all, How much time do you spend doing solo drills compared to two man drills? Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, This is mostly directed at those who practice with weapons. And to narrow it even further, I’m enquiring about those drills done in solo fashion. Recently, I started training with a sabre. This bent piece of dull metal has a balance point halfway up the blade. I reworked the handle with rope and tape so it won’t slip away. But all in all, it is a heavy workhorse and when I switch to a lighter weapon, many things change. Does anyone have any similar experiences? Regards, MrE2Me2