WCL TALK

Rade · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Southern Minnesota

I know we have quite a few knowledgable people on this board, and I was wondering if any such people knew any good drills to train reaction time.

My speed and power and balance is decent so far, I need to practice technique more, and my reaction time is terrible.

I've heard fighting with training knives works very well if you treat it as a real experience, as the fear of being sliced or stabbed usually gets the mind to pay more attention than it would being punched or kicked.

But that requires another person... My brother and my friends aren't as enthusiastic as I am about fighting. I need more solo-drills. If possible.

So, I would kindly ask you to share your knowledge with a young warrior.
_________________
Relax, breath, flow, destroy.

Valiss · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 262 Location: Earth

Do you train at a dojo or gym? That is really where you need to be if you are serious about professional fighting. Some guys can do it without a trainer, but I think if you go talk to your local fighters you will find it easier to have a trainer once you get up to that level. Another good way to get your hands quicker is to join a boxing gym. You'd be surprised how much footwork and headwork you'll pickup, in addition to quicker hands. There are many good gyms all over the country; do a google search in your area if you aren't already at a gym and they will be able to guide you to some drills (and drill partners).

Good luck!
_________________
-Valiss

Rade · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Southern Minnesota

I'd love to join a gym, really. But I'm not quite in a position where I can leave town too often, considering I've got school.

Unfortunately there's nothing cool in my town. There's a Tae Kwon Do place, but that's meant for little kids and they're obsessed with memorizing forms and verses from things...

Oddly enough, I met an amazing fighter a few months ago who's around 30 years old and has been in several competitions and whatnot.

Unfortunately, I'm not exactly on friendly terms with him.
_________________
Relax, breath, flow, destroy.

Galo · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Los Angeles

Rade, first step to training is to find a gym. A place where you can train and spar with other trained fighters.
_________________
www.mybodypotential.com

Rade · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Southern Minnesota

I know but...

Eh... Well, maybe I can find one during the summer.

For now, I've got a school and a job.

...

Oh... No one's got any training ideas for reflexes then?
_________________
Relax, breath, flow, destroy.

Galo · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Los Angeles

You can't learn how to react to some one punching at you with out having someone trying to punch you. You can't compete in a real Combat Sport from learning MA's on your own from books or videos. I'd also like to add that you can't/shouldn't critisize (sp?) other fighters when you haven't stepped in the ring yourself or at the very least trained in the art for some time.
_________________
www.mybodypotential.com

Rade · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Southern Minnesota

I disagree. Someone punching at you is simply the [i]best[/i] way. Not the only way.

Anything's possible.

Eh, I like complaining and criticizing. Relieves stress; but you are right, I shouldn't.
_________________
Relax, breath, flow, destroy.

weis · Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Rade, you need to make the best of your situation. Whilst you dont have a gym/dojo to train at - I would suggest you invest in a floor to ceiling ball. Will help heaps with your reaction speed as well as accuracy.

Also, try beep drills. Working combinations on a bag, different spots marked and having to hit these spots with particular techniques at particular times. To make it interested have the bag swinging a bit too.

Additional, ducking and weaving drills are useful for training reaction times - i.e coming up from different positions/stances etc to avoid training the one technique. To help with this - the age old tennis ball hanging on a rope from the ceiling never fails Smile

_________________
"Praise be to the God of my strength,
teaching my hands the use of the sword,
and my fingers the art of fighting."
Psalm 144:1

Scott Bolinger · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Nebraska

if your just doing solo, to help create reaction time, setting up a heavy bag, double end bag and speed bag would be helpfull. I have several work out routines I do on the heavy bag that could help with timing and speed.

If you have a training partner, working the coaches mitts steps up your training to another level.

But on my sparring days, what I do is I have my guys do 2 rounds with one person punching and the other person blockng. Short blocks, like palm blocks and perries. then we would do a ound of , one person punching, the other person setting up for round houses to the leg. Depending on how they block, would determin if there kicking on the inside or outside of the thigh and wether it's a leading leg kick or reverse leg kick. Then after that we would do a minimum of 2 regular rounds.

5 rounds of sparring is a little light, but this routine works. If your doing straight drills on the baggs, you might start off with 6X2 minute rounds, but the goal is to get in between 11 and 15 X 3 minute rounds. You get to that level and to mix it up a bit, you can change the rounds into 5X5 minute rounds or 15 minutes on each bag.

Developing speed and reaction time takes alot of work. But, just have to develop consistancy in your training routine and with consistancy everthing will fall into place.
_________________
Author of "WarriorRage KickBoxing"
www.warriorrage.com
President of the WarriorRage KickBoxing Federation
www.wrkf.us

Scott Bolinger · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Nebraska

a couple other blocks we do in that drill are, back fist blocks and sholder block (shrugs)
_________________
Author of "WarriorRage KickBoxing"
www.warriorrage.com
President of the WarriorRage KickBoxing Federation
www.wrkf.us