Sparring with Destruction Techniques (With Video)

Destruction Techniques

Let’s talk Destructions. Destruction techniques have been recently on the minds of those in the fight community. Mainly due the the UFC fight Weidman vs Silva, where Silva broke his own leg throwing a kick. But usually destruction techniques aren’t that drastic, or that spectacular.

The word “Destruction” is really just a synonym for “Offensive Defense” . The idea, is to block a kick in such a way… that it make your opponent disinclined to throw another one. So let’s shadow box these motions so that we can properly apply them on the pads.

Shadow Box

The first move we will focus on is a foot stomp. Much like a muay thai teep, you raise the leg up in a semi straighten fashion. Stopping your opponents oncoming rear leg kick, preferably on the knee joint, but anywhere in that general area will suffice. After that your going to drop that leg into the cross followed by the hook and then the cross again. Ending with a mid-level, double rear leg kick yourself.

For your second combo, we are going to do a cross over leg sheild with that rear leg. Intercepting your opponents rear leg kick. This defense has a verisimilitude to what we saw in the Silva Weidman fight. But we’re going to add a separate element which is using the same defending leg, to foot stomp or side kick the inner knee area of your opponents front leg. This movement will generally cause you to finish in my case a south paw lead, opposite of that which you started with. Now you will end this combo with a mid level kick with the opposite leg, stepping though to the stance you’re accustomed to, summing it up with a cross, rear elbow, rear knee.

Pause this video, and practice this a few times before moving on to the pad work section.

Pad Work

So let’s apply this now to the pads, you can use focus mitts like we are using here. Or Thai Pads if you want to put more sting into your mid-level kicks. Either way I will suggest shin guards for both feeder and puncher. In order to keep you from limping for accidental shin collisions.

Praxis Work

Now lets work practical application in sparring. these move here can be pretty detrimental. I dont suggest using them in sparring unless you guys are going easy enough as to not harm each other.

Apply counter move like this in sparring is hard, because they are a reaction to your

opponents attack. So you have one of two choices… Wait until he kicks, or get good at what we call “Baiting”. Baiting, just as it sounds is putting yourself in the position that which your opponent want to kick you. Which of course in turn is exactly what you wanted to begin with. So first thing you need to do, is frustrate your opponent by staying in his kick range. If he feel he can punch you, we won't risk a kick. But if you maintain a distance where kicking is his only option, he has no choice. Also, get into a front heavy stance. One that looks like that front leg of yours is difficult to get up and move out of the way of his kick. These two activities in conjunction, will give you the best chance in baiting him into a kick. Once the bait is set, it’s time to catch a fish.

Mike O'Laskey
O'Laskey Martial Arts
Burbank Ca. 91506
www.olaskeyma.com