The Ichi-Ni Drill

Here's a good drill to help your students develop timing, focus, speed and reaction.

It's called the "Ichi-Ni Drill" and it works like this...

Students pair off and decide one person to be "Ichi" while the other is "Ni". They stand facing each other in their forward stance ready for your count. On your count the person who is "Ichi" must make a technique using their partner as the target. Then when you count "Ni" the other person makes their technique using the first person as their target.

Your job is to count "Ichi, Ni, Ichi, Ni, Ichi, Ni, etc" loudly so everyone can hear you. Start off slowly so students have plenty of time to do complete their technique. Then gradually increase your counting so students have less time between techniques.

When the count is slow, students have more time to do longer range and more complex techniques like spin back kick, hook kick, etc. When the count is fast they have less time so they must use short range/faster techniques like front jab, reverse punch, etc.

This is a fun yet simple drill that students enjoy. Try it out in your class and let me know how it works for you.

Of course if you don't count in Japanese in your class I guess you can call it the "One-Two Drill" instead. =)

For a full list of skill building, heart pounding, blood pumping karate drills check out my 125 Dynamite Drills.

Enjoy!

- Jason

Martial Arts Warm-Up Drill

Here's a good martial arts warm-up drill. I use this often with my classes and want to share it with you today. It's good because both people are working - one is practicing their stance while the other is constantly moving.

One person stands in Shiko Dachi/Sumo Stance (or kiba dachi) with their hands on their head and is responsible for counting. The other person starts facing their partner and must make 10 passes between their partner's legs by dropping to their knees, crawling under their partner, standing up and run around to the front again.

With each pass the student must turn the opposite way after emerging from under their partner, so they are making a figure 8 pattern. For example, on the first pass they must stand up and turn left, run to the front, drop down and pass through the legs again, stand up and turn right and run to the front.

As a warm-up do 10 passes (5 figure 8s), and as an endurance drill do 20 passes, 3 times each.

The constant standing up, dropping down, turning and thinking becomes challenging as your students fatigue.

Try it out and let me know how it works for you...

Of course if you're looking for a bunch more of karate warm up drills and exercises you can always check out my 125 Dynamite Drills which is available here...

;-)

Enjoy!

Jason