Training Tip #1 – Training Safely
There are several aspects of safe training. Let’s take a look at each major component in turn.
1. Safety Valve – Our main safety valve is simple, yet profound. Speed. We can practice essentially everything in our system as long as we are doing it slowly. Hit the other guy with the Bata? Yep, just do it slowly (and properly). Do the joint manipulations, throws and takedowns? You bet. Slowly and with purpose. (integrated into this is the ground skills we practice as well). When you slow everything down, not only do you guarantee safety to a large degree, you are also programming your brain and your muscles on the concepts. In real life you will speed up naturally when the adrenaline dump hits, so by practicing at a slower pace, you are doing higher quality training.
2. Safety Gear – When we want to go faster/full speed and actually hit one another, then safety gear becomes essential. We really like hockey gear. Helmets with face cage, gloves, forearm/elbow guards and shin guards are all essential equipment. And you don’t have to spend a ton of money on them. Look at secondhand stores, or some of the online wholesalers. Skip the top brand names and save your wallet. But save your hands, head and elbows!
3. Training Shillelagh (or Cudgel) – If you have the budget, nothing beats an authentic Shillelagh or even a well made wood training Shillelagh. Not everyone has an available budget, so it is simple to make your own safe training Shillelagh!
We have instructions on our Youtube Channel (https://youtu.be/AC07Nbgi398), but boiled down, all you need is a 1” dowel rod from Home Depot, a Tennis Ball and some black Hockey Tape. Long term it might not hold up for years and years, but then again, you will have only spent less than $10 bucks to make it. So have fun, make a couple and throw it away when it breaks.
We look forward to seeing you on the mats.