The Most Important Martial Arts Skill

In this martial arts training post I want to share with you one the first training drills that we introduce in class, a drill that is not only one of the fundamentals of the martial arts, but a drill that can grow with you as you build skill in your martial arts journey.

The training drill start with you and your partner standing across from each other, about six feet or so in distance. When they are ready, they are going to step forward and try to grab you.

When they do this, you use your footwork to get off the line of attack and put yourself in a safe position where they cannot immediately grab you again.

That’s it.

No martial arts techniques, strikes, locks, throws…

…just get out of the way.

Move!

What this drill is teaching is that when something enters your space- move out of the way and get off the line of attack.

Put yourself in a safe space.

If you just stand there and try to counter with a martial arts move, what happens if it doesn’t work, of there is a mistake in the distance and timing.

Always get out of the way first!

As you progress in the martial arts, this training drill scales up.

Instead of a grab, it could be a punch or a kick.

It could be done with multiple training partners.

It could be done from the side, from behind, etc.

How can you incorporate this drill in your own training?

See you in the dojo!

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