Training Drills: Set 3

Faint and react

Have two students stand in an open stance (both facing the same direction), one with their lead hand with a target and the other getting ready to kick. The objective of the kicker is to use fakes or faints to get a natural reaction (flinch) out of the partner. When the desired reaction occurs, the kicker tries to kick the partner’s target. The partner tries to hit his or her own target before the kicker does. If the target holder prematurely reacts by slapping, the target before the other student kicks, they must switch roles, and, if the kicker is beaten by the partner, they switch. Note: the target holder must start with the other arm behind the back.

Balance

Have students stand with their feet together and palms together in front of the chin. Have them raise their heels and close their eyes. If you are feeling especially cruel, you can ask them to lift one leg up and put it behind the supporting leg. This will teach them to have good balance without having to use their arms.

Bridge tag

For this drill, use a 3-foot pool noodle. Keep number of student to less than 15 so they do not bang heads when crawling under "bridges.” Have children line up and have them pick a number from 1-50, whoever picks the number closest to your chosen number gets the pool noodle. On command, they run in all directions with the child holding the noodle in two hands chasing after them. If a child is struck with the noodle (no face contact), he or she drops into a bridge position (a real high pushup position). When one of the other students crawls underneath a student "bridge," the student that was the bridge may get up. After 30 seconds to 60 seconds, stop them and count the bridges. The student with the most bridges is the winner!