Modalities
Chapter Intro:
To do anything well, you must have only two things: Technical know-how, and the right tools. In our previous chapter we discussed the beginner and intermediate curriculum, (which serves as know how) and in this chapter we will pair with the right tools: Modalities and Class templates. The two serve as means to activate the curriculum into a palatable experience. Whereas a curriculum identifies the skill sets to be learned, modalities and a good class plan allows for those skills to be had. In this chapter you will have basic understanding as to how to use the right modalities to activate your curriculum into something worth experiencing.
“It is critical, that a teachers speech matches the purpose of the tool.”
The right tools, the right words.
Remember that we learn what is emphasized, not what is said. Each tool carries a different emphasis for development in which we’ll discuss below. It is critical, that a teachers speech matches the purpose of the tool. In doing so, we create symmetry between for a student: ‘what am I doing and what outcome does this tool help me achieve?’
Wooden Boards Bags don’t hit back
Correct. Thats because the heavy bag is not a substitute for sparring/combat but rather a component of it. The heavy bag is meant to Build:
Technical Finish: This is about differentiating between mechanical force, and muscular force. That you are using the correct physical mechanics to deliver the energy of your technique in the correct direction. Take a punch for example. It is easy to throw a punch, but only to end up scraping the bag on impact. This tends to happen with hooks and circular punches. A hook should finish with sense of ‘digging’ into the target rather than a scrape or slap. So, to finish technically is to take time and train the feeling of a a techniques particular ‘finish’.
Depth: The bag is meant to teach the fighter how to technically finish their technique and to centre in on that idea without the concern of being hit back. It allows you the solace to focus on the depth of your attack:
Skin
Muscle
Bone
Organ
Each target (head, torso, limb) have a different type of depth to yield an effect. Being the thickest target, the torso requires much more depth of finish relative to attacking the head or limbs. Getting familiar with the notion of hitting with depth is the fundamental point of bag work.
Coordination: All techniques have an active component, and a passive component. Ie, the off hand of your punch should be protecting your face while the other punches; prior to kicking, on must anchor their weight onto the standing leg. Taking time on the bag to train the delivery and finish of your weapons is an opportunity to develop a sense of acuity for the order of operations required for each technique.
