10 Nov- Session 5

Today we did various defenses from chokes. Chokes are of two kinds: the rear naked choke and universal choke.

And I must say that chokes are lethal! Just a little pressure and you will choke and start coughing. Painful indeed.

The defense from standing rear universal choke is as follows: (1) chin down, shoulder and hands up, face towards the direction of the choking arm, (2) hands jabbing at assailant's eyes/ hammering of assailant's face, (3) pulling down on assailant's choking arm, moving backwards with inner stepping back (4) hold onto assailant's arm in twist position and strike assailant

The defense from sitting/flat rear universal choke is as follows: (1) same, (2) same, (3) pushing up assailant's choking arm at elbow, twisting the body (4) hold onto assailant's arm in twist position (with weight and leverage on assailant's shoulder and elbow) and strike assailant

The defense from standing rear naked choke is as follows: (1) chin down, shoulder and hands up, (2) pushing back with body weight against wall, (3) upon impact, pulling down on assailant's choking arm, moving backwards with inner stepping back (4) hold onto assailant's arm in twist position and strike assailant

Also, I did the usual 20min run.

And I did 30 left and right distancing kicks and 15 left and right side kicks on the bag.

Week 2

Mon- Shadow Drills

Tues- Krav Maga + 20min Run + bag work (30 L and R front kick + 30 L and R side kick + 30 L and R combination punches)

Weds- Krav Maga + 20min Run + bag work (30 L and R front kick + 30 L and R side kick + 30 L and R combination punches)

Thurs- LSD Run

Fri- rest

Sat- Krav Maga + 20min Run + + bag work (30 L and R front kick + 30 L and R side kick + 30 L and R combination punches)

Sun-rest

8 Nov- Shadow drills

Did some wrist push-ups. This is definitely important to increase my wrist strength and naturally my punching strength.

Worked on my form for my side kicks (of three height levels) and back kicks.

Also on 360 bursting and inward defense (Which is highly important). Next I must be sure to remember to incorporate the push at the end of the ret vez moves which follow up onto the initial defensive move.

After all, the session felt good where you leave the session with a nice smooth feeling of positive muscle memory.

5 Nov- session 4

We learnt the side kick and round house kick. My form definitely needs work for these two. I tend to kick too high for the round house which the instructor said is not practical in street fighting. We did 30 of each side on the punching bag. Feet are nice and red. :) And we also did 3 x 1min of 360 defense/ inward defense + bursting + follow up strikes. As usual, punching bag work is always shagadelic.

I went for a 20min run in between.

Came back soaking wet for more shadow boxing. Next we learned the defense against stick/bat attack. We learned how to defend against two types of strikes.

The first is when the assailant is using the weapon on its flat length with two hands on opposite ends of the weapon. We are to burst in with our hands up and palms facing the weapon to block the incoming strike and to follow up the move with a snatching of the weapon with a downward bodyweight-led snatch with both hands. Next we are to do combination strikes with the weapon and leave the scene.

The second type of attack is when the assailant executes with a roundhouse swing. I really like this move because it is very fast and effective. We dive in with hands and arms out in a streamlined position with our armpits going over the assailant's arm as he is swinging out. Then we knee him to the groin while our outer arm locks both of his hands. We turn inwards which forces the weapon off his wrist and we proceed to strike the assailant with combination strikes with the weapon.

4 Nov- Session 3

Today I learn the inward defense + strike. We did quite a bit of shadow combination strikes in lead up to our multiple assailants sessions. That was mighty interesting to get whacked around and test out our strikes and defenses in a "real-stress" situation.

Then I went for a 20 minute run in between. Next on the menu was defense against a situation whereby we are faced with an assailant who is armed with a knife (a typical mugging situation). The followup moves are hands up, eyes on weapon and verbal disarming.

Next we need to gauge the distance with which the knife is away from us. If the knife's distance from us is far, we will strike the knife away with a c-cupped hand strike at the assailant's wrist. (If the assailant is carrying the weapon in his left hand, strike with your right towards your left. And vice versa). From there, we are to follow up with combination strikes, move around and behind the assailant and flee.

If the knife's distance from us is short, we will push the knife down with our hand on the assailant's wrist. We need to lock our grabbing hand with our entire body weight behind it and push the assailant back while at the same time striking the assailant multiple times. From there, we can move our two hands on the knife (still in assailant's hand) and stab him with it, dig in and wrench the weapon out of his hands, move around and behind the assailant and flee.

3 Nov- Session 2

Today I learned front choke defense. This involves 1. tucking in of the chin, shoulders up, hands up and verbal disarming of the assailant "Don't hurt me!", 2. Explosive turn of the waist with one hand snatching away one arm, the other arm bursting over his two arms, the end position is an armlock which throws the assailant off balance, 3. finish off with back elbows to the head and combination strikes.

Next came the side head lock defense. This involves 1. tucking in of the chin to the direction of the assailant, shoulders up, hands up and outer leg moving over the assailant's lead leg, 2. simultaneous wrenching of head with inner arm and groin strikes with outer arm, 3. follow through the head wrench to force a take down, 4. strikes and leave.

2 Nov- "I have the privilege of training in a fightcage"

Yes, so shiok. What a first session workout. I learned the various basic strikes: hammer fist, straight punch, side hammer punch + elbow, front elbow, back elbow, knees, back heel kick and front kick to the groin. Then we had fast combination on the punching bag, 3 sets of 1 minute each. Lastly we did PT: burpees, sit-ups, knuckle pushups and planks. Lastly, I did some 360 defence blocks.

Back tomorrow for more.