THREE DRILLS TO INCREASE YOUR SPEED

One of the attributes that the original NYC Pekiti-Tirsia group from the 1970s was known for was our speed. Here are some tips to show you how we got so fast.

VIDEO: Some samples of videos that show the kind of speed that was developed through the "old school" Pekiti-Tirsia training methods.

 

 VIDEO: How to measure your training tools, so they will fit you and help your speed training. The first place to start is with the right tools. Here are some tips on choosing a rattan baston, a hardwood sword trainer and a polymer sword trainer that will fit you properly for training in the Pekiti-Tirsia system.

 

 VIDEO: Introduction to the "1,000 Times" concept. When I first started stick training with Tuhon Gaje, it was very common for him to give new students the instruction to do a technique "1,000 times." The idea here was to get your muscles so fatigued that you did not have the energy to add extra movements and you would naturally fall into the most efficient way to do the technique.

 VIDEO: A Beginner's Speed Drill based on the 5 Attacks Subsystem. Much of your speed in stick work, especially in combination strikes, will come from the efficiency in the transitions between those strikes. Here is a drill based on the basic four diagonal strikes to help you move more efficiently.

 

 VIDEO: An Intermediate Speed Drill based on Contradas principles. This is a drill to develop speed and power while maintaining control of the training sword through the use of a "double force" grip. In Pekiti-Tirsia, the Double Force grip has your free hand adding power when needed to your sword hand, while still keeping the flexibility of a one handed grip.

 

 VIDEO: An advanced Speed Drill based on Seguidas. This one is probably the most unimpressive of the three drills shown in this essay; but if you want to know how I got so fast in my Seguidas demonstrations, this is the way.

 

 VIDEO: Here is another look at Seguidas that may help you understand the concepts shown in this essay. 

 

Train Hard, but Train Smart,

Tuhon Bill McGrath

PS. This is a companion piece to my essay "How to Hit Hard."

For info on upcoming classes, seminars and camps, visit: https://pekiti.com/pages/upcoming-seminars