Last week we discussed why tanks are scarier than cannons — because tanks can move and cannons can’t — and we did some movement-related training. This week we’re taking it a step further by doing some “next level” movement drills.
Why? Because, whether you’re a martial artist or not, being able to move through your environment isn’t just handy for clearing obstacles so that you can escape danger. It’s about ownership of the space you occupy. It’s about confidence, command and mastery of one’s body, practical fitness, fighting the spectre of workout boredom, and more!
LOCOMOTION: MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING INVOLUTION #173
Martial warm-up. Practice your forms or flow drills for 8 minutes.
Spar or work your heavy bag for 20 minutes. If you have a partner, gear up and spar using whatever guidelines you prefer. At my clubs we generally spar using standard MMA rules and equipment except that we don’t allow strikes to the head (only smearing, grinding and cooking) and we don’t push the contact past about 2/3. If you don’t have a partner, work your heavy bag. I recommend using some aspect of the “S.A.F.E. M.P. ” protocol from the Cabal Fang Study Guide.
Practice some martial movement exercises for 15 minutes. Set up a little course of six exercises as much like the ones in the video below as you can manage (modify, adapt and overcome!) which are Suitcase Carry Sprints, Vault w/ Quad Run, Jump and Safety Roll, Log Walks, Kansas Burpees and Get-ups. Set a timer for 2:30 intervals and do as many as you can of each exercise for 2:30.
Walking Contemplation. Walk. Just walk. Go slowly to minimize the sounds of your footfalls. Be silent and do not fidget or scratch. Breathe silently and in a regular pattern, and narrow your eyes to minimize the need to blink. Do not think in words, prepare your grocery list, or any of that. Just put one foot in front of the other and allow your chattering monkey mind to gradually quiet itself until you’re in a quiet state of awareness.
Journal. And, as always, record your performance, thoughts and realizations in your training log or journal when you’re done.