Night of Side Kicks

We started the class with a warm-up that was like a fruity cocktail drink. In other words, it sneaks up on you. You were winded at the end of the routine. However, while you were performing the routine, you would not expect to become winded.

Drill #1
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute a side kick.

Drill #2
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute a hopping side kick.

Drill #3
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we side kick our partner the full length of the floor with our left leg and then when we get to the end, we side kick our partner the full length of the floor with our right leg. We had to do this twice to complete the drill. Side kicking our way down the floor was not kick… partner sets herself… kick. It was kick-kick-kick. The idea was to keep your partner from setting herself. This drill brought back memories of my traditional martial arts days when we had to perform kicking drills up and down the dojo floor.

Drill #4
We executed a high side kick toward our partner’s face. Our partner defended with an inside defense.

Drill #5
We executed a medium high side kick toward our partner’s midsection. Our partner defended with a plucking defense.

Drill #6
Our partner holds a kicking shield and tells us the number of side kicks we must execute. Once we’ve executed the required number of side kicks, our partner tells us to drop and sprawl on the floor. While we’re sprawling, our partner moves to different position. We get back to our feet and our partner tells us again to execute a certain number of side kicks. He tells us again to drop and sprawl. This cycle continues until the instructor tells us to switch roles with our partner.

Drill #7
The final drill was the practice of a different variation of the bar arm choke defense.