I’m going to share a chain drill with you that connects the back escape with a rolling back take.
There’s two techniques in the flow. So by the standards of chain drills, it’s a simple drill. And it also combines a basic technique with a more advanced one, which can make things a little more interesting.
Beyond this particular drill though, I want you to understand the power of chain drills, in general.
So let’s begin there.
Including Chain Drills in Your Training
Connection.
The meaning behind that word forms a large part of the conceptual framework of the art.
Not only are there the connections that we create between us and our opponents but also there’s endless connections between techniques. In isolation, no technique is effective. It’s only through connection that the power is revealed.
What chain drills offer is the ability to easily include repeatable transitions within the execution of techniques.
The drill you’ll learn later will an example. but let me outline the characteristics of a chain drill for you:
- It has at least two techniques.
- Once a full flow is completed, the positions must reverse.
And it has some great benefits:
- It disguises repetition, which can make drilling more enjoyable.
- It allows both partners to practice all the techniques of the drill without any pauses or resets.
- It helps increase awareness of transitional opportunities for attack and defense.
Consider that my encouragement to start creating chain drills of your own. It’s a largely unexplored territory. The possible combinations are endless, but much brainstorming will be required.
On to the Back Escape Chain Drill
Whenever possible, I create chain drills because it makes the game more fun for me. I’ve created a lot of them, and I will create far more. This one though… was not one of them.
It was shown to me by a student. He learned from a seminar, and immediately I saw the value and added it to my practice.
It’s been majorly beneficial for me, and I know it will be for you. So check it out!