Now, this is probably gonna sound a little daft, but I was play sparring with my little boy (5) last night. It's a game we play sometimes -him armed with a bamboo shinai (though any stick would, and usually does -do), and me trying to avoid, with footwork, body-movement, or as a last resort a parry or block. -I try to avoid the parry/block cos even swung by a 5yo a stick or shinai will smart if you get hit esp on the hands, elbows or head. Anyways, my little boy suddenly declares whilst fighting in our kitchen (red and white chequerboard tiles approx 12'' square) that 'red' is on fire and makes me 'die' - I'm suddenly finding myself paying more attention to my footwork than ever before, both trying to watch where I'm treading and simultaneously avoid incoming blows. I'd consider myself no more than a casual combat sports enthusiast, but have 3 years of Judo (where you have to know where your feet are), 1 of Taekwondo both in my early teens, and 2 years boxing from my early twenties - ( I'm now a geriatric 40yo) - but have not seen or heard of a similar technique used for footwork training. Now, of course it was a special fun moment for me cos' I was playing with my little boy, but has anyone heard of similar or comparable training techniques being used for footwork/ring awareness. Hmmm...it was just me getting carried away wasn't it? :think
I have never heard of similar training, but i've only trained in 1 gym for 2 years so I'm far from experienced. The only thing that stuck out for me in your post, was the way you "Canadian-ized" the spelling of "checkerboard". What the heque? lol
Doesn't sound too different from using ladders, or that thing Rigondeaux was training with, looked like a spider web of strings on the canvas he had to step over.
Thanks for the replies. Chequerboard is my just my ignorance, I play some Chess but thought it'd get a more international response...I believe what I call draughts is spelled Checkers(?) then, in the US and that was what I was aiming for. New knowledge is always a good thing. Yeah, now I think of it. both ladders and tyres are well known techniques, but I'm more thinking of training in which you're both trying to defend and simultaneously watch your feet (or I suppose to teach you to understand the exact position of your feet at all times). I'm quite sure what I'm talking about isn't a novelty, or perhaps simply not that useful, but for me gave me a kinda EURIKA! moment, in which I felt my upper body movement become completely reflexive and natural because I was focusing on my feet.
It might be a good way to drill changing the angle and stepping to change the range with proper distance with respect to an opponent.
