Toku-Waza development

Small group but we got a lot done this Sunday.

On Sunday, we tried out a new training methodology that I'd been thinking since last year. This approach to training is designed to develop tokui-waza (favorite techniques). It basically involves getting players to think of set techniques they would do when faced with certain scenarios (in groundwork and standing).

Of course, in order to do this kind of drill, your players need to have some basic techniques to work off of in the first place. For four-and-a-half months, since the beginning of this year, we've been teaching our players (including absolute beginners) a variety of techniques. Now, they are equipped with enough basic techniques that they can start looking at developing tokui-waza for different scenarios.

Newaza
We started off with newaza. I had the players do, without resistance, three different scenarios:
a) turtle, head-to-head
b) riding the turtle
c) guard position

After they'd worked on their tokui-waza for each of these scenarios, I had them do resistance drills. That was much harder work but it's what's necessary to acquire mastery of the techniques.

Tachi-Waza
For tachi-waza, I had them work off only two basic scenarios (we didn't have time to do more). One was when uke has a left-hand stance and the other was when uke has a right-hand stance. From there, they were asked to do uchikomi followed by nagekomi on crash pads.

Randori
There was not much time to do randori so we just did some sets of newaza randori.

Assessment
The players responded well to this approach and I believe everyone benefitted from it. I noticed during randori, the natural tendency for most players is to forget what they had just practiced which goes to show that it really does take time for most people to adopt new moves. It takes time for muscle memory to sink in.

Going Forward
Normally on Sundays, we won't work like this. This tokui-waza development modules will be done during weekday trainings (Tuesdays and Fridays). In order to the get the most from the players, I'm thinking of breaking up the Tues and Fri trainings to newaza for Tues and tachi-waza for Fri. Then Sunday will be general training where we do more games, general technical development and so on.