Thread: dodging training?

LOL! The title sounds like you are trying to "dodge" training......

Are you talking about simply moving your head, or are you looking more for footwork drills?

Sounds like you need footwork drills mostly, and some head motion drills.


STEPPING BACK ON A LINE: You step back and pivot so both feet are in line. Your opponents centerline and both of your feet are all on the same line. As your partner (opponent) comes forwards with an attack, you step back, pivoting 180 degrees. This can be used for straight attacks and curved attacks like the roundhouse kick, but you have to be mindful of how deep you step with each depending on how you intend to counter. Especially be careful using this tactic against a round kick because you can inadvertantly step backwards INTO someones power (it is often best to step FORWARDS against a round kick, but that's a different drill altogether)


SIDESTEP & PIVOT: put tape down on the mats so that you have 3 parallel lines from one side of the room to the other. put your lead foot on the middle line and your rear foot on the corresponding outer line. Have someone stand in front of you and throw straight punches and push kicks. As they throw a straight punch or push kick, you step your backwards with your lead foot to the unoccupied line, and slightly pivot as the rear foot now drags to the middle line. You should be moving towards the OUTSIDE of their attack. You need to synchronize this drill with your partner so that they go left-right-left-right throughout this drill. As you get comfortable with it, then you can stop using the taped lines and start going more freestyle with it.


CROSS-STEP: Best to give an example.... Let's say you stand left-hand lead. Your opponent throws a left jab. With your lead (left) leg, you step 45 degrees to your right so that the punch passes harmlessly past the backs of your shoulders. If it is a straight attack such as a Jab, Cross, or Push Kick, you want to step so that you are outside of the attack. If it is a curving attack such as a high roundhouse kick, you want to be to the inside of the attack. For instance, if your opponent throws a right-legged round kick at your head, you would step across with your left foot at a 45 degrees angle to your right. Like the straight punch, the kick go harmlessly across your shoulders...

Remember to start off doing the drills in a slow, controlled fashion until you start to get it. Increase speed and power gradually.

With the above mentioned evasive tactics, you do not move your head. Head motions drills are separate. I would suggest to not worry about head motion yet. Learn how to use your feet first. After you get your footwork down, then start to add head motion to it.

Moving your head back is "okay" in certain circumstance. You just have to be mindful that moving your head by leaning backwards can cause you to lose options for directional change. If you lean backwards, really the only direction you will be able to move is backwards. A savvy opponent will pick up on this and press forwards at this time....

Usually when you slip, you do want to have a slight forwards lean

It does matter, actually. Stand in your normal stance. You should place 2 of the lines such that they line up with your feet. The 3rd line should be the same distance away as the 1st two lines... Does that make sense?