Free hitting / box system practice

Working the five strikes (inside high, outside high, inside cut short, outside cut short, and stab) with passing step footwork. Focus on hand – body timing (throw the strike out first, let the body follow it).

First, dry hits solo. Start at point, throw the inside high hit, follow with the left step. Then throw the inside high hit, following with a right passing step. Pay attention to timing the hit first, then following with the body. Repeat with outside high, inside cut short, outside cut short, and then stabs. Use the mirrors to watch your strike timing and targeting.

Now, same thing but double the hits. If you time the entry strike ahead of the footwork, you have plenty of time to throw a double hit within the time of the passing step.

Now, partner is in front of you. For inside high attack, partner throws an outside high attack. Each encounter, throw the interrupt strike forward with the doubled second strike. Partner is working hand then body timing as well. We do this relaxed, half speed, but by working the strike-first timing, we cut the movements down to the bare minimum so the relative speed for both partners is very high. By working the alternating passing steps, defending partner gets to work both offline angles. Defending partner checks the attacker back each time. As the attacker falls back, he positions his weapon for the next hit, then throws it forward, strike first, no initial loading movement. Work all four combinations.

Now, same thing but mixing the feeds.

Finally, same thing but both partners have two sticks. Defender is working double box with the strike-first timing. Attacker gets to work strike-first timing with the either-hand gambit… he can throw either left or right hand forward, his choice and the defender has to fluidly respond.

Lots of stuff to work on here: timing, offlining, reading the opponent and anticipating, adapting to mistakes in your judgement, being solid in your step (making the check work), etc etc etc.

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