Although training with a partner is the ideal way to train combatives, very often we will not have access to training partners. So instead of not training at all, we can train alone and still get a good session.

Some tips to keep in mind when training alone:

  • Don’t try to do too much in one sitting. Pick just a few techniques or exercises to work on during the session and stick with them. If you try to cover too much, you’ll scatter your focus and end up learning nothing. Remember that good Combatives training is based on repetition. To be good at it, you have to train a few select techniques over and over again until you master them. If you try to master too many techniques at once, you will end up mastering none.
  • Train thinking about the street. This means that you do not train in a sporty way. So no shadow boxing or long training sessions. Everything you do should be combative, not sports. Warm up first, then practice your exercises and techniques in short bursts. A true street fight is an explosive burst of energy that doesn’t last long. There are no rounds. Only from intense periods of combat that last only a few seconds. Your training should reflect that. So basically go fk for no more than ten seconds, then stop and repeat.
  • Add emotional content to your training. Whatever you do, you need to back it up with the right mindset. If you hit the bag, do it with full intent and aggression. Really imagine that you are in a situation and you have to sacrifice this guy. Anything less won’t do. You are practicing the access state as much as the physical techniques. Hit the switch, go like shit, and then flip the switch back, making sure to check the status each time. By training in this way, you ensure that the techniques will come to the fore when you need them. This is the only way to train.
  • Resist the urge to do long sessions. Long training sessions are for endurance athletes and sports fighters. You will benefit more from shorter sessions of about fifteen to twenty minutes, but train at maximum intensity during that time. If you feel that one session is not enough, train twice a day.

1. DRILL CLOSE AND STRIKE

The great thing about this exercise is that you don’t need any equipment and you can do it anywhere.

Start from a square in the stance, then move into a close stance with your arms out in front of you as if controlling your space, then from there deliver a preemptive strike.

Repeat several times.

To make the drill more useful, put your imagination into play. Pretend there is someone in front of you, giving you a complaint. Control their space as they try to get in, and then when you think the time is right, strike with full intent and watch the guy get knocked out. Remember, the emotional content is what makes these techniques stick.

2. CLOSE, STRIKE, BURST AND FINISH

As stated above, only after you strike preemptively do you continue to hit your opponent with multiple strikes, moving forward as you go (forward drive) before finally finishing your opponent off with knees and elbows or some other technique of your choosing. .

3. IMAGINARY FIGHTING EXERCISES

For this exercise, you will play a complete attack scenario from start to finish. First think of a scenario. You could be walking to your car in a dimly lit parking lot after a particularly tiring day at work or you could be standing outside the chippy after you’ve had a few drinks with friends. Which. Your imagination is the limit here.

Once you have a scenario in mind, really put yourself into it, mentally and emotionally. Start acting it out like a real actor would.

Take the example of the parking lot. He’s walking to his car when he sees two dodgy-looking guys loitering near his car. Your spider-sense starts to tingle and you can feel the adrenaline start to bubble up inside you. Something is not right (he really feels this!). As you continue to walk to your car, one of the guys (wearing jeans, a black jacket, and a baseball cap) asks you for a light. You tell him you don’t have one. As soon as you’ve answered him, the other guy (dressed in sweatpants and a dark-colored hoodie) suddenly rushes at you, swinging his fist back in preparation to punch you. The fight is on.

That’s the setup. Which way this scenario goes is up to you. The important thing is that you imitate each movement as it happens. If you hit one of the guys, do it for real and feel the impact. If you get hit or grabbed, he really reacts.

Drop to the ground and grab. Enact the whole fight. Then when it’s over, walk away.

Done right, with your imagination running high, this can end up feeling like a real fight. It’s almost like visualization practice, but you’re physically representing each movement instead of just imagining it in your head.

Try to be alone when you do this exercise. If anyone sees you, they’ll think you’ve gone crazy as you dash around and fight imaginary attackers!