The Zombie Walk is a great warmup drill that’ll sharpen your footwork, improve your ability to get angles on your opponent, and blend movement with striking.
To do this drill your partner – the feeder – holds his hands forwards to simulate a fighting position. Then he walks towards you at a slow, zombie-like pace.
You also start in a fighting position but then circle out of the way as he approaches with the goal of getting behind him. Circle both to the left and to the right, staying close enough to your opponent so you could hit them if you wanted to.
As you become comfortable with the footwork component start adding in shadowboxing before, during and after the pivot. For example you might throw a jab cross combo as your partner shambles towards you, a hook and an uppercut as you pivot past his right side, and then a cross hook cross combo when you’re behind him.
Here’s a quick video of Ritchie Yip, head instructor of The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass, breaking down the Zombie Walk Drill…
This video is one of the many drills Ritchie filmed to create The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass (more info below). I’ve used it with many beginners and have found it to be a very useful drill to blend footwork and strikes.
The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass
The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass with Ritchie Yip and Stephan Kesting is your complete system for learning kickboxing. In this resource of course you’ll learn how to throw punches, kicks, elbows and knees with speed, accuracy and power.
Even more importantly, though, you’ll also get the defences, counters, combinations, training methods, drills and strategies used by the pros so you can actually functionalise this material in a real match or on the street.
It’s available in both DVD and online streaming formats so that you can access the material instantly on your computer, phone, or tablet.
Click here for more information about The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass
Tips for Your First Time Sparring
When beginners spar it usually quickly devolves into two people trading giant haymakers. Throwing heavy leather on your first time in the ring is just plain dangerous and doesn’t build any kind of refined fighting skills.
Most of the time when we’re sparring we need to conquer nature with science and control our instincts to just swing wildly for the fences.
Here’s how to start sparring in a safe and productive manner.
How to Kick Properly from the Ground
Many self defense systems teach that if you get knocked down to the ground you should get into a defensive position on your side. From there you should then lash out at your opponent with sidekicks to keep him away.
Here’s why that’s NOT the best approach and what you should be doing instead.