Maneuvering techniques?

Question

Had to stop doign kickboxing for a while due to personal reasons.

i'm trying to get back into shape / form before the next year of uni starts (i have a few months) fitness since i'm badly out of shape right now, i'm going to be using wii fit >.>

I'm going to be practicing my techniques the way i used to practice in karate mindless repetition at its finest :P best way to get something in your head. BUT there's something i want to improve upon quite a lot.

When we had sparing sessions before, my punches were perfectly fine as were my kicks as far as telegraphing went, but my actual movements were wel... terrible.

Even something like the quick sidestep (Placing the foot in a T and letting the body follow) i was getting caught out befor ei'd gotten half way through. So basically i wanted to know if anyone knew or could recommend any "movement" or maneuvering drills so i don't telegraph how i plan to move so much. Its really annoying having people react before you move :P

Answer 1

because you're moving wrong. ...i hate to put it so bluntly lol...but seriousy...dont move your legs and let your body follow....its slow and inefficient. and well...most of the time they are aiming at the slow part ..your body. or your head, which is on top of...your body.

move your body as one unit, not separate pieces.

example...stand there in your ready stance or fighting stance. have someone throw a front kick at you...or just say right or left suddenly. when they kick, or yell left. SLAM your hips to the left...and let your feet follow your body. you dont place your left foot out gently....you PUSH your whole body to the left by using your right foot. never just step your foot out, then allow your body and rear foot to follow. the entire point is to get your body out of harms way asap.

stephen hayes once said in a book...and its stuck with me. "always remember the purpose of the technique" and you will have better idea of how to do it. dont worry about looking like your teacher...get the "idea" and "understand" it...and it doesnt really matter where your big toe is pointing, or whether or not your heel is off the ground.

again, move your whole body. SLAM your hips in the direction you want to go by pushing with the opposite foot.

to go left:

slam your hips left

push your hips and body (as a unit) to the left using your right toe (ball of foot) all you have to do with your left foot is pick it up. done fast it's almost a hop/skip.

once your left foot hits the ground, follow up with your right foot, landing back in the stance you started in, just in a new spot.

tips: don't bounce up and down when you step, try to keep your belt knot (or naval) the same distance from the ground.

keep your hands up, which i mention because of what you said about blind repetition...i used to and have seen many people "chamber" their fist for that very same reason...then wonder why they got smacked.

you can also practice your stances exclusively. don't worry about punching or kicking. simply work on moving. and don't view your stances as fixed positions. but as freeze frames or photos of movement.

you dont (and were never meant to) stay in a front stance...you use it to put your force forward and then return to neutral. because to get from drive to reverse...you must go through neutral (in a car) ..its the same here, you have to start in the center in order to go in any direction quickly.

start in a horse stance and pivot into a right front, then a left front, then pull your left foot back into a cat scance, then back to horse stance, then pull back into a back stance...just mix them up.

other times footwork isnt really meant to be taken quite so literally. a cat stance is good for evading kicks...again its the motion, not the fixed position that's important. it's also good for firing back a kick of your own (even alot of bjj vale tudo guys will tell you to put your weight on your rear leg...not so different from a cat stance huh) or applying your body weight to a joint lock. so..any time you pick up your leg to step, you could be kneeing, you could be evading something, you could be preparing to kick. not everything is so obvious. you can step BACK into a front stance and trip someone. watch some old school jujutsu guys squat down to throw someone, they're in a horse stance.

anyway hope that helps you out. and obviously i have to completely disagree with A L's post...there are lots of drills to practice footwork. infact...ALL drills use footwork. any time you stand up and put on a pair of pants, you are using footwork. when you're doing chi sau, you are practicing your horse stance. when doing one step sparring you are practicing getting off the line.

the best way to build your biceps when lifting weights is to isolate the muscle. same thing here, if you want to work on your footwork, isolate your footwork from everything else, and concentrate on it.

the problem is many people overlook, or regretibly simply don't know (teachers included) the underlying principles of moving, or anything else. going through the motions blindly will produce nothing. understanding the principles beneath the techniques will allow you to transcend them and get into the realm of freestyling...or mu shin,...acting without thought.

of course it always helps to actually dodge something. slip a real punch, step off the line of a real kick...swing a heavy bag and evade it...etc.

Answer 2

Well it seems to me that ur kicks seem to be fine its just ur technique and ur form. When u were doing karate u were probably focusing on just initiating and landing a powerful kick. U werent focusing on the form of the kick. Form is what makes the kick powerful. There arent any kind of drills that will help with foot technique or maneuvering, it all depends upon the individual. Ur footwork must have a good connection with the ground and u must move with foot movement that is comfortable to move around and not make u lose ur balance. well train hard and work on ur form

Answer 3

Look up Loren Chritensen on Amazon and grab his books  "Speed Training",  "Power Training", "Solo Training", "Fighter's Fact Book" and "Fighter's Fact Book 2".

These should be a part of every martial artist's, and martial arts instructor's, library.  He has some excellent drills, tips and insights into improving your form in all areas whether training with several others or just at home by yourself.

Answer 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBLErRfyV...

Answer 5

I am not sure about Your question.

You say your movements are "fine as far as telegraphing", but that you were "getting caught before you were halfway through".

So, it seems you WERE "telegraphing".

Your opponent will react to the first thing they see. Since you are so used to "mindless repetition", so are the people in your class, so they see it coming.

To maximize power, and MINIMIZE "telegraphing" AND eliminate a twisted ankle, LIFT your knee first, THEN pivot into the  kick. By the time the kick is seen, it will be too close to avoid. ( I am assuming that you are referring to a roundhouse kick) Also, from that position, if they DO move, you can change the kick and still hit the target.

See my website for more information.

AMERICANKARATESYSTEM.COM

Good Luck!

Answer 6

yeah goto www.ebay.co.uk and find yasen a nice wee brain ffs.

u had perfect punches and kicks before the now !!!

.......and now you write ur "pre-planned plan of action" down and hand it to ur sparring buddy ( ~@ telegraphing ((( <~~~ wtf is that lmao )))_)

lose the burgers and THE ONLY WAY MARTIAL ARTS HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER ""FIGHTER AKA  MARTIAL ARTIST :-) IS IF INDEED YOU HAVE THE INSTINCT FOR IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

other wise tis good for fun, health, temperment, twatting ur mates ( for a laugh of course ) and staying away from becoming a lard **** !!!

oi oi tek care and open ur eyes when sparring :-)