Fighting from the Stand to the Sand

The ability to cover up and slip are skills taught when the student is learning range-one techniques, but they also apply to range-two and three. When I was a youngster, I learned how to cover-up when on the ropes. To prevent being knocked out you pull the forearms up to cover the face while your bent arms cover your ribs and vital areas until you can get out of trouble. This technique must be practiced in case you’re being struck after placing an attacker in the guarding position. It can also be used to get in close enough to place the opponent in a clinch that leads to a jujitsu throw.

When my oldest son was fighting in full contact karate, I saw how to use the cover the make the throw in real life. A kickboxer and karate student were fighting a kickboxing and judo student in the ring. The kickboxer and karate student were landing blows that forced the judo player to cover up. This emboldened the kickboxer, so he moved in close. The judo player placed him in a clinch to tie up his arms, or at least that is what it appeared to be. The judo student under hooked one of the karateka’s arms and threw him to the ground. He was given a warning for this action and the fight was restarted, but the response made an impression on me. Later one of my students Frank Dickson, used this a ploy to take me to the ground regularly. He was better on the ground that in the standing position. He preferred to take one or two shots to bring his opponent down. This ploy works but also has its downside. If you get clipped on the chin, kicked in the face, or kneed in the head you may be the one going down unconscious.

Basic Cover-1 (Closing the Curtains)

The basic cover is purely for protection. It is like a game of peek-a-boo that you play with a baby. You pull your forearms together to hide behind them and then open them up to counterattack. Covering-up from a standing position is common practice, but in today’s personal combat taking someone down and placing their adversary in the full mount to begin raining down blows has become more common, so the student must know how to cover-up on the ground as well as the stand.

Warning: Never go to the ground when facing more than one opponent.

This can be done through a simple drill.

Execution:

1. Student must be in a fighting stance.
2. Bring forearms together to protect the chin.
3. Punch right and left.
4. Repeat

In the AOKK we drill two-man sets that practice the twin forearm block or the cover-up. This technique is found in the oldest of katas Sanchin. This is not something new. The student is first taught the twin-forearm block or cover during their stand-up training in range-one.        

Basic Cover-2 (Moving and Forearm Blocking)

Once the basic peek-a-boo cover is taught the student must add movement. Movement will keep you from being battered. Slipping side-to-side should be added while blocking.

 This can be done through a simple drill.

Execution:

1. Students must be in a fighting stance.
2. Bring one forearm to cover the face and execute a downward parry-block with the other while learning to one side. (slipping the opponent’s punch)
3. Bring the other forearm back to cover the face and execute a downward parry-block with the other while learning to one side. (slipping the opponent’s punch)
4. Straighten up and punch right and left.
5. Move in a half circle.
6. Repeat Series

Note: Lastly, the cover should be practiced during two-man sets.

Example:

1. Students must be in a fighting stance.
2. Uke lead hand punches
3. Tori steps outside and forwards blocking the punch with both forearms.

Note: Hit uke like a linebacker hits a quarterback on a blitz. You must attack the punch. The desired goal is to be shoulder to shoulder to uke when you make your turn.

      4. Drive a forearm across uke’s throat.

      5. Execute a throw in concert with the forearm strike.

Note: Try Ko-uchi-gari or Ko-soto-gari for the throw. If you’re behind uke, you can even use a hip throw.

    6.Cross uke’s hipline and make a full top mount.

• • Begin striking uke with light contact, so uke can practice the cover from the  ground.

Basic Cover-3 (Forearm Blocking from the Guard)

The cover is not just a stand-up technique. It must be practiced from the ground also.

Execution:

1. Uke is in the guard.
2. Tori is in the full or top mount above the hipline.
3. Tori must make light contact to simulate punches.
4. Uke must bring his/her forearms up to block Tori’s blows.
5. Uke must tie-up tori’s arms and escape the mount.

Note: This should be practiced from the guard, full-mount, half-mount, and full mount below the hips.