The perfect class!

[WTG]

Burton,

if you could make the "perfect" class for JKDU, no limit on time or any of that. What would that look like?

How long would the class be? And how would you divide that time as far as ranges, also what proportion drills to sparring to equipment?


Thank you!

-Rick

PS, of course all other opinions very welcome!

[bzarnett]

The 2 Hour Class

I find that if in a one hour class you include stretching, and shadow boxing warm-ups you are not left with much of a class -- generally about 1/2 at most and 35 minutes if you are lucky. I feel this is not enough time, although it seems to be a pretty standard duration.

I like the two hour class. The first hour allows for conditioning while the second hour is technique, drills, etc. For example:

In the first hour the routine might be:
5 minutes of Light Shadow Boxing (warm-up)
15 minutes of stretching
3 to 6 minutes on the focus mitts (pick a game)
30 minutes (or less) sparring lightly in various ranges.

The second half is where we pick a game or a concept and work techniques at various pressure. This might include more sparring (with equipment, slaps, etc.), additional focus mitt work, etc.

An example of a second half of a class might be:

Working on the clinch:
a. Briefly work the swim
b. Work the underhook with knees
c. Work the underhook with opposite arm grab and knees (opening and closing the center line)
d. Work the underhook with head post, to opposite arm drag, to rear bear hug.

Each is worked under different pressures and then we add additional elements. We might end off on some more light sparring from this range and see if we can work in anything we have done that day.

The class ends then with knife sparring -- til the first hit. This can be one on one, two on one, or last man standing. This is a great cool down.

Given one month time, I am undecided if I would work one range each week and have the final week all weapons, or try and get to games going with each class based on: Stand-up to Clinch, Clinch to Ground, Ground, and just put weapons in when I feel like it.

In American Kenpo it was so much easier -- you work 90% of the time self-defense techniques and the other 10% of the time forms and sets (perhaps for the last 10 or 15 minutes of a class). JKD changes the rules (for the better).

B.

[Burton]

I have to get to sleep as I am leaving early tomorrow morning.

A great class is to have plenty of time, at least an hour and a half to 2 hours. (Most people don't like the longer classes, thus the one hour time slots.) Warm up, work a few techniques, then spar in each range. After stick sparring, drill your weakness. Same after sparring in the other ranges. Keep the sparring to where nobody gets hurt or totally demoralized, and everyone should improve. Finish with some stretching and talking about our training, then off we go. Enjoy!