The Jab is one of the simplest and fastest punches that you have. The jab is the probe for range, for your opponent’s reactions and reflexes, it is a quick, snapping and powerful strike, a set up for other strikes, as an offensive tool, a counter attack and defensive strike. I feel the Jab is the most important tool to develop and time should be spent to sharpen this weapon.

Here I break down the basics of the jab, multiple Jabs
Flicker Jab
Power Jab
Marchers Jab
Retreating Jab
Slant Jab
Corkscrew Jab
Rising Jab
Jabbing using basic footwork.

While doing Carenza this morning I decided to mumble my musings about our current situation. Yes, this is new for everyone, but it is not a time to go backwards, au contraire mon frères et sœurs, it is a time to grow.

The ability to strike on the ground is key in MMA. Your body will adapt to the training you put it through and the more that your training resembles what happens in fights the better.

Often times you have to striking loose and fast, and then squeezing to hold or submit, and the. Immediately back to striking…. there is often no rhythm involved, you strike when you can and control, hold and squeeze when you have to. The goal is to randomly switch back and forth to mimic what happens in fights.

The Ground and Pound, Smash and Squeeze drill can be seriously tiring. The more tired you get the more focused on precise hitting you have to be.

If you have a dummy you can use this time to develop a crushing choke. When you are training with a live partner you can never full out squeeze and crush their neck and/or jaw for an extended period of time. If your choke is set once you start to squeeze they will tap or go to sleep relatively quickly.

With a dummy you can squeeze and crush it for as long as you can and want to. To develop strength and endurance you have to be able to maximize the use of your muscles over time. Well, you have the time and you can easily have the training equipment to develop that crushing choke.

Knife training is great for coordination, quick twitch movement, speed, body mechanics… Here I am focusing on some Key coordination and hand speed drills. Bottom line, everything helps everything when it comes to athleticism.

Taking some time to really focus on developing an initial proper grip and sharpening placement and position of your cross chokes. Strengthening your grip, wrist and using proper body mechanics is key. You could know a 100 chokes but, you are only as strong as your weakest link. In this case, and in many, it is the grip. Have fun working some simple details.

‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ and it is time to get creative. Ever since I was kid I have always been creative with my training. I have always set time for personal solo training and have a ton of different training methods from a variety of martial arts.

For all of you that are going through BJJ withdrawals, here is a quick fix. I took all of my gis (tops and pants), 4 on the inside, and folded them together so that they are firm. I then put them in a zip up sweat top (I was going to use a hoodie). I then rolled up 2 sets of 2 towels (2 arms) and stuffed them into the sweatshirt arms. I then zipped up the sweatshirt to bundle it all together. Then I stuffed it all in a Gi and tied it with my belt. I then got a foam Roller and put in the neck of the sweatshirt. Lastly, I taped the arms shut and the foam roller in place. BAM! There ya go, 15 minutes later I have a home training dummy.

Dedicated to the Hard Working and Creative Individual.

Using the ‘escala’ to direct the precision of your attack angles is important. Having a visual cue allows you to really focus on how and where you are striking (stick, blade, empty hand). A simple concept, but one I think needs addressing.

Adding to our basic striking methods, there are countless numbering systems and stroking patterns. The key is creating patterns that work for you, that deal with the realities of combat and work to maximize your body mechanics.

Primary to the Filipino Martial Arts are the defenses and deflection to a multitude of attacks. Defense has 4 primary parts: Zoning (angling away from or cutting away the power of the strike), the Deflection (block or redirect incoming attack), the Checking Hand (the alive hand which aides in the deflection to reduce power, controls, grips or wraps the incoming stick and/or hand/arm delivering the strike…) and always the Follow Up Counterattack.

One of the goals of Carenza is to flow and fluidly connect all of your movements together. You want to visualize incoming attacks and move with focus and purpose to develop effective movements.

Be creative and have fun! Carenza is your own expression of movement. Your personality, your feelings and thoughts coming out in your movement. Do not be over critical, do not seek a set pattern, but rather simply enjoy moving.

As we will have more time to train on our own I want to share some of my thoughts on one of my favorite solo training methods – Carenza. Carenza is my primary morning exercise and one I will use throughout the day. Though you are using techniques and movements that are definitely combative, my goal with it is therapeutic. It is a great way to loosen and build mobility in you shoulders, elbows, wrists, spine, hips and lower body.

Today, I will break down some of the basic movements used with a single stick. The goal is to be flowing and fluid. – Figure 8, X, Redondo, Abinico, Florette, and Jab. Have fun and stay tuned.