Some Kyu Grade Combinations and Associated Pad-Drills

https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/ This video shows four kyu grade combinations and associated pads drills from my dojo’s grading syllabus. The full set, of which these four are part, are designed to impart various movement and power generation principles. The combinations and pad-drills are not set for the higher kyu grades. They will be given previously unknown combinations to do on the day of the test in order to ensure they have internalised the principles imparted by the set drills such they can apply them freely. It is vitally important that the student can move beyond the initial examples, so they develop the ability to adapt to circumstance. This ability is tested. When done solo, the student has the chance to shift their focus inwards towards their own body mechanics. On the pads, the student has the opportunity to shift their focus outwards towards power generation, distancing, etc. Both – along with numerous other forms of training – ensure a rounded skill set is developed. In my view, all combinations must be combatively applicable. I am not a fan of seemingly random sets of motions, no matter how physically difficult, if they have no direct application. Unfortunately, we sometimes see this, and the justification given is, “it teaches muscle control”, “body awareness” or similar. I would argue that combative combinations also teach muscle control, body awareness, etc BUT in a way that has relevance to combat. NOTE: This video does not show all of the combinations on the syllabus (just four). It is, therefore, not possible to see how they fit together in a wider since. Some are aimed at consensual violence (fighting) and others at non-consensual violence (self-protection). This demarcation is always made clear to the students. This video is a quick summation for students I had taught at a seminar. I am walking through the drills to recap what they have already been taught in more depth. It’s therefore not indented to be an instructional clip, but I hope you find it interesting nonetheless. Thanks for reading and watching! All the best, Iain My App: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/iain-abernethys-applied-karate-kata-bunkai-app Shop: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/shop/ My Newsletter: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/join-newsletter-and-get-two-free-e-books