This drill useful och useless?

[eXcessiveForce]

hmmm okay let me try to say this a different way.

you have

perception
processing
reaction
mechanical


first you must precieve a target. this drill helps you precieve a target, but it not proper stimulus for the ring.

Processing, you identified a target, now your brain is setting up to hit the target, (this part doesn't matter what the target is it is stimulus independent)
Reaction (you signal for the leg to perform, again stimulus independent)
mechanical (repetition will build speed, strenght and accuracy)

as you do this you will increase the last three steps in this chain. As you work sparring your brain will associate this training with selecting targets in the same ranges.

The brain often works off of "what worked last time" if it doesn't have a last time it goes for what worked last time I did something close to this.

So while it would be optimal to have someone stand there and leave openings for you to whack, it's just not gonna happen. When you go to sparring the problem is action is dynamic, so you cannot constantly practice hitting targets at different levels since the other person is trying to do the same thing.

[gabbah]

Good post.

So, why not eliminate the first step, reaction, since it's not relevant for the ring anyway?
If we do that, we're back at the pad holder simply putting up the pads for you to work techniques. The pad holder decides what technique, by holding the pads for hook, straight punches, or roundhouse kicks, and perhaps even front kicks.
And you throw the techniqes as fast as possible. And this is done while the pad holder and you are moving around, so that footwork is practiced as well.
I dunno, it just seems more relevant and effective training that way.

[eXcessiveForce]

Well because it is easy for the brain to substitute different stimuli it may add something to the speed of the chain, it also makes the foot work more difficult.

Speculation would also say it could help in recovery when you end up out of position while instilling the instinct to aquire and hit. Lots of people become defensive when they lose sight of the target. That is total speculation though.

are there better ways of doing this, sure I think their are. But if this is something you are doing for 10 minutes once a week I don't think it's a waste a time, it's just a little bit of variety.

If you haven't you may want to ask what the trainers are attempting to accomplish with the drill, then evaluate it based on their criteria. If they say it is just for variety that's one thing, If they tell you it is for improved combat efficiency ask them to show you how.

[elliotNess]

Good post.

So, why not eliminate the first step, reaction, since it's not relevant for the ring anyway?
If we do that, we're back at the pad holder simply putting up the pads for you to work techniques. The pad holder decides what technique, by holding the pads for hook, straight punches, or roundhouse kicks, and perhaps even front kicks.
And you throw the techniqes as fast as possible. And this is done while the pad holder and you are moving around, so that footwork is practiced as well.
I dunno, it just seems more relevant and effective training that way.

What is your pad holders fight record and reputation? Does he have ring experience? Their may be some insight in the answers to these questions

[gabbah]

Well because it is easy for the brain to substitute different stimuli it may add something to the speed of the chain, it also makes the foot work more difficult.

Speculation would also say it could help in recovery when you end up out of position while instilling the instinct to aquire and hit. Lots of people become defensive when they lose sight of the target. That is total speculation though.

You may be right about that. I will upgrade that drill from useless to useful.

are there better ways of doing this, sure I think their are. But if this is something you are doing for 10 minutes once a week I don't think it's a waste a time, it's just a little bit of variety.

Well I believe in optimizing my training, cutting out the crap, and training stuff that I need personally.

If you haven't you may want to ask what the trainers are attempting to accomplish with the drill, then evaluate it based on their criteria. If they say it is just for variety that's one thing, If they tell you it is for improved combat efficiency ask them to show you how.

The particular trainer who did this drill with us is not the head instructor, I know he wouln't be able to answer that question to satisfaction, he's not very analytical or verbose hehe. He did TKD for a long time, maybe he got the drill from there? We had a guest instructor that did TKD and he made us do the same drill basically.

[gabbah]

What is your pad holders fight record and reputation? Does he have ring experience? Their may be some insight in the answers to these questions

No we did this in kickboxing training. The pad holder is just another student.