Ringen Drill

[william_cain_iii]

Hey guys, just wanted to share a basic drill I use when introducing people to some of the concepts underlying what the manuals show us about ringen.

I don't think anyone could ever argue that the manuals are complete, so a lot of lessons on body mechanics and personal balance are left to be filled in. This is a drill that a wrestler in my previous fencing group came up with in basic form that I finished out in order to help people learn about dynamic gripping, grip breaks, and personal balance.

Drill Name - Grapple Tag
Type - Exercise, Game
Skill Trained - Muscle strength, warming up, competitive spirit, ringen grabbing skills, balance, grappling breaks and grabs
Props - Room to move around a bit.
Description - There is no Agent or Patient in this drill. Both participants begin a bit out of range, and close in. They are allowed to perform arm grabs, focusing on elbows, wrists, and biceps. They can perform simple breaks, pulls, and pushes, but cannot engage in body grabs or throws. The purpose of the game is training upper body movements. The object of the game is to break the opponent's grab and get a palm-grab on the back of the opponent's neck. The grab must be clear and in control - a countergrab made at the same time gives a point to neither. After a grab, the parties step back one step, then close in again and begin grabs, breaks, and neck-tag. First to three wins, and the game moves to new partners or continues again, depending on people available.

Remarks - I use 'game' loosely in this, in the sense there is a competitive element to it. One needn't necessarily include the 'first to three wins' mechanic and focus simply on the pedagogical value of the drill itself, but my groups have all pretty much agreed that a little light-spirited contest is worthwhile.

Further, this drill can be built upon to include more elaborate ringen concepts such as throws, but in getting there you move away from drilling and more to outright sparring,w hich is fine, but the purpose of this is to give a drill that can help teach body control.

[John Farthing]

Some interesting ideas.

Thanks for sharing!

[Stacy Clifford]

Gene Tausk has his students do something very similar in his grappling classes, it's a good exercise.

[Jaron Bernstein]

I will throw in one we use locally as well. Both people wear fencing masks. The striker should wear gloves (or hit with palms and hammer fists to avoid grating their knuckles on the mask).

The puncher's task is to hit the grappler. He may not grapple, but only use kicks and hand strikes. You don't have to beat the tar out of the guy, but definitely register solid hits. The heavy bag is where you get to whale full force, not your training partner's head.

The grappler may not strike. His task is to set up a good grapple (but not fight it through beyond the initial set up) while the other guy is punching him. Do that for a while, then reverse roles. That gets you comfortable in a "live" training scenario with both grappling and striking in one drill. Plus you get instant feedback as to whether it is working or not.

[william_cain_iii]

Shameless yoink!

All seriousness though - Jaron, do you mind if I take that drill for my group as a warmup exercise? Full credit will be given for the source.

[Jaron Bernstein]

Shameless yoink!

All seriousness though - Jaron, do you mind if I take that drill for my group as a warmup exercise? Full credit will be given for the source.

By all means try it out and see if it works for your folks. I didn't invent it, so I am not really the source. I just heard of someone else using it and found it helpful.