The Drill Level

When I was sparring, I noticed something happening to me and my opponent that I often see in WC videos: the dreaded chin-up-lean-back-please-don’t-hit-me-because-I’m-in-too-close-and-fists-are-a-flyin!

I started to think about why I still do this – and why the Karate opponent was doing it too.  In looking back on the drills we ran on Sunday…in fact in looking at all the drills I ever do, there is a tendency for me to pull my head back when my opponent goes to mock a hit (read: stop one inch from the target in the beginning stages of learning).  I think this happens to a lot of people: we don’t want our partner to hit us, so we bring our head back (and our chins up).

Boxers don’t do this when they drill their techniques.  The guy receiving the blow keeps his chin down, gloves up and stays in the pocket.  So it’s back to the drawing board with me all the way from the drill level up.

Because if I do it at the drill level, I’ll do it at the Chi Sau level, and then the Goh Sau level, sparring level and finally the street.

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