Looking for some target pad kicking drills...

[bushido_man96]

I am looking for some target pad kicking drills I can use to spice up classes a little bit, that is more than just kicking a paddle with one kick. I'm looking for kick combinations or punch/kick combos that others might use in training for sparring.

I'm looking for any suggestions. Thanks!

[Harkon72]

We do all our kick combinations to pads. Last grading it was Ushiro Geri, Mwashi Geri (Back Kick, Roundhouse KIck). Next Time it's Mae Geri, Ushiro Mwashi Geri, Sirikomi Mwashi Geri (Front Kick, Turning Heel Kick, Step Up Roundhouse Kick).

[sensei8]

My favorite drills involves my partner moving in and out and to either sides and so on and so forth with the pads in no particular way. Why? In real life, our opponents don't always, if at all, move any perscribed manner; they just move. This drill makes one think because not always is said target(s) within rangeable abilities. This drill also forces one to also drill the many phases of Koshi. Koshi is more than "hips", Koshi involves using your whole body in a coordinated manner to generate and transfer power, and to assist mobility. MOVE THE TARGETS!! Make them work for the targets in an effective manner.

[Rateh]

Here's one: pad holder starts out with pad against their chest, ready to hold it out for a right leg roundhouse kick. Kicker should start with right leg back, standing too close to kick the target. Pad holder puts target out for right leg roundhouse. Kicker immediately slides back, then throws a right leg roundhouse kick. Pad holder then holds for a turn back kick (they should do this as quickly as possible). Kicker immediately throws a turn back kick as soon as they land their roundhouse kick.

Two versions: in the first one, the kicker steps forward after the roundhouse kick; this means that the pad holder must slide back a small step when they hold up for the turn back kick. In the second version, the kicker places their foot back behind them after throwing the roundhouse kick, this means that the turn back kick is then from the same leg.

[DWx]

Easiest thing to do is get 2 pads and "spar". Move around and have one person present the pad every so often in positions for roundhouse, hooks, punches or side kick / back kick. Other person has to react accordingly.

Or for a good footwork drill, have a pad at punching height and move back forward and left and right. Other person has to continually punch whilst tracking your position. Or track you whilst throwing roundhouses.

I always find looking at competitor training videos give good ideas of how to work the pads:

Or search YouTube for videos from seminars with your favourite fighter / teacher:

It's not with pads per se but the following has loads of great drills snippets:

Whatever drill it is, to teach good habits I always encourage the pad holder to try to tag the kicker after the drill. They've either got to move or cover up.

[bushido_man96]

Danielle, thanks for sharing those links. I like the ideas he has in those. Some great ideas to focus into a sparring class. I like his thoughts on keeping the target pads close, too, to get used to hitting.

My favorite drills involves my partner moving in and out and to either sides and so on and so forth with the pads in no particular way. Why? In real life, our opponents don't always, if at all, move any perscribed manner; they just move. This drill makes one think because not always is said target(s) within rangeable abilities. This drill also forces one to also drill the many phases of Koshi. Koshi is more than "hips", Koshi involves using your whole body in a coordinated manner to generate and transfer power, and to assist mobility. MOVE THE TARGETS!! Make them work for the targets in an effective manner.

I like this idea, and I want to use it in the future. But I want to get some drilling concepts down for the students (and myself) to get used to, that way when we do the random pad work like that, they will feel more comfortable with reacting.

Harkon72 and Rateh, thank you for your ideas, as well! I am going to try to start putting some things together so we can work on things like this, and these will be very helpful!