improving dodging skills

[ShotokanKid]

Get a batting machine and stand about seven feet in front of it. Cover up the light that turns on when its going to shoot. You can use masking tape. When the ball comes out dodge it.

[Ben Martin]

kgjuv

Edited October 5, 2013 by Ben Martin

[Shorin Ryuu]

The objection I have to people learning dodging by having stuff thrown at you is your instinctual reactions (which is what you are developing) may or may not be the best for your balance training and/or be the movements you want to do when you are fighting. The best way is simply efficiency. This means moving as little as possible. I can't speak for the kata you do (if you do them), but a lot of the kata teach avoidance maneuvers in many ways and can be as simple as how the foot steps forward, back, across or to the side (and however many variations you can come up with).

 

That being said, I think footwork is the most important thing. Footwork and coordinating the hips and your center of gravity with them. Too many people try to avoid by bending the upper body in strange and interesting contortions, but I don't think that's the best way to go about doing them. You may not always have to move your hips or your feet in every case, but you get the picture.

 

Translating theory (kata) into practice requires the use of a good partner who will actually punch/grab/kick/whatever are you. It is too often the case in many places whatever the style that people do not direct techniques at you and either shortcut or direct them away from you. Because of this, you must always ensure that any partner you have is doing his part correctly as well. I'm obviously not advocating going pell-mell and full force all the time (at least not until you are comfortable), but unless you both do the techniques correctly, you both are hurting your training.

[Taku-Shimazu]

What I do is tie a wooden pole (I use a broom handle) with an attachd Nunchaku type flail, to a tree on a length of rope and punch it, it may sound strange but when you hit it, it will start to swing and then it spins and starts flailing at you like three fists at once.

 

Trust me it works because you don't want to be hit in the face by that twice.

[Ted T.]

Dodging takes agility, the ability to turn and change directions quickly in balance while moving. Strong legs and back are necessary.

 

Plyometric drills done wrong can tear up your joints something awful but if you do this light, it has the potential for real gains.

 

First stand with your feet apart and step to your right, bring your left foot in to beside the right, then swing it left to step to your left, bringing your right in to beside the left. Fine point here, don't just lean on one foot or the other but really step into it so you are moving your whole body over 18 - 24 inches. Do this till you get a good rythm going.

 

Now the hard part. When you land on a foot, let your body weight sink down into that leg, bending the knee and before the sinking down is finished, drive back up into your weight, driving the other way. (It's like skating where to move you must conciously push into the ice.)

 

It is not necessary to drive like a demon, it can be done lightly with good effect.

 

Now, switch the side to side step into a forward and back step, then add diagonals. Now when you do your bob and weave drills, add this in...

 

Not only is your leg strenght increasing but your muscles are getting used to the change of direction while moving, a total plus.

[SevenStar]

The objection I have to people learning dodging by having stuff thrown at you is your instinctual reactions (which is what you are developing) may or may not be the best for your balance training and/or be the movements you want to do when you are fighting. The best way is simply efficiency. This means moving as little as possible. I can't speak for the kata you do (if you do them), but a lot of the kata teach avoidance maneuvers in many ways and can be as simple as how the foot steps forward, back, across or to the side (and however many variations you can come up with).

 

That being said, I think footwork is the most important thing. Footwork and coordinating the hips and your center of gravity with them. Too many people try to avoid by bending the upper body in strange and interesting contortions, but I don't think that's the best way to go about doing them. You may not always have to move your hips or your feet in every case, but you get the picture.

 

Translating theory (kata) into practice requires the use of a good partner who will actually punch/grab/kick/whatever are you. It is too often the case in many places whatever the style that people do not direct techniques at you and either shortcut or direct them away from you. Because of this, you must always ensure that any partner you have is doing his part correctly as well. I'm obviously not advocating going pell-mell and full force all the time (at least not until you are comfortable), but unless you both do the techniques correctly, you both are hurting your training.

 

exactly. In addition, the object thrown only has that one chance of hitting you - so you can move way too early, and you don't have to worry about follow up attacks, feinting, etc.

[AnonymousOne]

I have a tennis ball throwing machine linked to a computer software programme I had a friend custom make for me, that sends the balls at varying velocity, directions and intervals.

 

No matter how good you get at dodging those balls that are fired at you, you can always up the settings in the software!! Haha

 

You can either try to dodge the ball or catch the ball. Either way it helps with reflexes, evasion skills and agility.

 

Very simple but highly effective. And yes it can and does bruise you!!

[SevenStar]

the other thing with the tennisballs is the telegraphic nature:

 

1. you know to anticipate them coming

 

2. you see them coming from further back than you would an actual strike.