Teamwork Martial Arts Drills

Whether you’re practicing a hard-striking martial art, like taekwondo or shotokan, or a “soft” style, like kung fu or judo, training with other people is a must for any burgeoning martial artist. Team training helps you develop timing, blistering-fast reaction speed and confidence in your ability to defend yourself under pressure. To paraphrase an African proverb, it takes a community of martial artists to raise a black belt.

  1. Slow-Speed Sparring

    • Practicing sparring, or controlled combat, at half-speed not only helps you focus on your offense and defense, but it can also help you perfect your technique, developing that explosive power you have always wanted. In addition, sparring at slow speeds will help perfect your balance and ability to react instinctively. Find an equally-matched partner and spar slowly until your offensive and defensive techniques become as natural as walking down the road.

    One-Step Sparring

    • Another great way to hone your techniques is through one-steps, or a simulated attack working with a partner. One-steps begin with your partner stepping forward on cue and throwing an exaggerated punch. Your job is to block or evade the simulated attack and counter it with an attack of your own. One of the benefits of one-step sparring is that you can work on your technique while practicing moves like throws and take-downs without danger of hurting either yourself or your partner.

    Floor Drills

    • Floor drills involve moving up and down the floor while doing various techniques with every step. They can be conducted with an entire class moving in the same direction or with the class divided into two groups who do the practice facing each other. The advantage of floor drills is that beginning students can be surrounded by more advanced students, giving them the opportunity to observe how the higher-ranking students move. Floor drills most often include kick/punch combinations or combinations of multiple kicks while moving up and down the floor.

    Circle Sparring

    • For more advanced students, circle sparring is a good way to develop blistering-fast reaction time. In circle sparring, you are surrounded by multiple opponents who form a circle around you and attack one at a time. With circle sparring, you have no time to think about your defense, only to react to the attack. Another advantage of circle sparring is you can develop effective counter attacks from every direction.