We did more observation drills (as I call them). In these drills, you’re in a fighting stance and your partner is striking you with punches and kicks. She’s concentrating on hitting vulnerable targets and throwing combinations that flow from one technique to the next. You… on the other hand… are observing her strikes and visualizing your defenses. You had to be continuous with your strikes for the entire round.
Using what you learned by the observation drill, you now were allowed to defend AND counterattack in the subsequent drill.
The next drill pitted two opponents against you. Opponent number 1 initiated a striking attack while opponent number 2 observed your defenses. After observing you, opponent number 2 jumped into the fray, replacing opponent number 1. He initiated Level 1 attacks. Opponent number 1 stood back, observed and then jumped back in with attacks while opponent number 2 stood back again.
After each round, the instructor would comment on what he observed. He pointed out patterns. Maybe you threw too many knee strikes. Someone observing those knee strikes would know that at some point she could grab your knee and take you down to the ground. On the other hand, maybe every time you threw a right cross you didn’t recoil your hand back to your face fast enough thereby leaving yourself open for a left hook to the head.
The next drill added a little spice... weapons. The drill started like the last drill except that one of your opponents might be attacking with a knife or stick. If an arm got hit by the stick, the arm could still defend, but couldn't strike.
The final drill added one more stickler. While you were engaged in combat with an opponent, the opponent observing could shout “drop.” Both combatants had to drop to the floor and continue the battle there. A knife fight on the floor is a lot different from a knife fight standing on your feet to say the least.
It was a great class and a lot of fun. And, as always, exhausting!
