How to Drill

How to Drill

One question that always comes to mind is how should you drill? Accompanying that is how to be a good partner. I believe in a few different levels to drilling.

 Level 0

This is where your opponent does not resist at all. The focus is specifically on you and your own body awareness. You want to be able to get the move down. You want to get each step with accuracy. When there is no resistance, you better set the bar high and do the technique nearly perfect. The goal of zero resistance training is to get the technique down, and get it with great proficiency and detail.

Level 1

I refer to this as cooperative resistance. During this phase your opponent will try some of the basic foundational escapes/control/counters, but also be actively helping you get the move. If you are trying to escape, your opponent will put a little weight or a cross face on you to make it a little harder, but possible. If you are trying to submit with say an armbar or triangle, they will posture up, try to pull their arms out, or stack lightly, but let you wiggly your way back to posture and get the submission. The goal in this phase is to develop understanding in your opponent’s natural resistance and movement against your techniques. This will help you tighten your technique.   

Level 2

I refer to his as non-cooperative resistance. It is important to note that this phase is not Live. It is resisting the move with very specific and technical responses. While still letting your partner get the move. Occasionally they may make a mistake and you can then capitalize. However, you only escaped because you did a technical move, and they didn’t follow the fundamental responses. The goal for the bad guy in this phase is to give the drilling person a good workout, but still help them get the move. If the drilling person has spent time in level 0 and 1, they should be able to execute the moves/techniques. They may not be pretty, but that’s what the level 2 resistance is full.

Level 3

This level is live rolling with specification. For example if you worked escapes all week during class, or the theme of the whole month is escapes, or triangles, or guard passes. Then that specific position is where you will start, and after you transition out of that position, you reset. This will allow you to get the most amount of time within the parameters of your work. You have a goal, and you ask yourself if you achieved the goal and got results in your training. Its simple, if you want to get better at passing the  guard, put yourself in someone’s guard, so this specific live based training will reset you back into position so you can keep working and isolating your work. Goals in this phase are repetition and response time. You are drilling at a much faster pace now.