Three-Step Sparring

Last night, Samdan Travis Morton had decided to grace our Dojang with his presence. At the same time, he brought a fantastic drill with him.

I have been familiar with the three and five -step sparring drills of the Okinawan Masters for a few years. I often saw value to them, but never had a chance to exercise anything remotely similar to them with anyone else. Samdan Morton offered such an opportunity.

Yesterday, he introduced a three-step drill. The three-step drill involved not only a striker and defender. Each step was seperated intermittently by an analysis. It was the opportunity of the defender to read the situation and positioning of the striker. The defender state his analysis, each time with less words, concise reasons, and greater certainty. It is the responsibility of the attacker to honestly and definitively decide and then slowly execute the technique.

This drills requires both honesty and determination. While the striker must have honesty in what he/she was giong to do, the defender also must honestly execute the block of what he had chosen. Due to the inherent risk of contact, the moves should be executed at half speed. Eventually the drill can be executed at higher speeds with quicker exchanges,. The drills, as is, is very well suited for both beginners and advanced students.

I found the timing, additionally amusing. I had just discussed the effects of such a drill with another Master friend of mine, for use of sparring with gear. This seems easily adapted and I will keep up posts if this happens in the future.

Train hard. Train smart.