Bad Habits

Whilst helping to teach on some recent GT Master Classes, I noticed that, on alot of the photographs taken throughout the sessions, my eyes were closed at the very point of impact with my punches.

One reason I know is that I am actively trying to relax so much that I notice my eyes closing and opening a little more slowly than normal.

Obviously, this is not a great habit to have and one that I am now actively training out of.

Conversely I am able to keep my eyes open when being hit, something from my boxing training.

So, what are your bad habits in your training?

I have noticed that when training sometimes depending on what I am doing.
if my partner is wearing a headguard, gum shield etc etc. I had started to relapse into not fully driving my punch through when sparring.

This came from a time in an altercation of 4 on 1 which I ended up in the middle of and am lucky to still be here. I only got one shot at one guy at the time before his mates jumped me, and the one shot I threw didnt rock him as much as I thought it should have.

So the deep fear kicked in whereby it was " why throw this when it wont work ". which I had to train seriously hard to throw 150% power and effort into our sessions again. thankfully it is very very rare that it happens now, but im still training it every chance I get to make sure nothing ever gets pulled again.

Also being tempted to bugger off for a water break before my round on the bags and pads etc had been finished. so working on that also.

i reckon ido that too Al, but i pretty much put it down to natural reaction. dunno if i could train out of closing my eyes when being hit,

i need to regulate my breathing more.

i need to use more technique and basic mechanincs in groundwork rather than strength cause i exaust myself quickly.

erm i think i could find a few more. probably a lot, lol... if i couldn't i probably would not bother training

I think you're right Les.

When I boxed alot, one of the things we tried to do was keep our eyes open when punches were inbound. It's pretty tough to do cos you're going against thousands of years of evolutionary natural reflex, for the body to protect it's eyes when in danger.
But it can be done and something alot of boxers develop.

So, I'm trying to use that now to force myself to keep my eyes open when hitting. but habits are really hard to break.

I too have alot more, just wanted to throw one or two out there to start the conversation rolling.

Breathing is anotehr good one. I often find myself holding my breath, especially in padwork when doing long combinations. Another bad habit.

I've got loads. lol

my getting over bad habits revolves arounds muscle memory of old MA's learnt in my youth, rear leg not following the front one when punching and forming too long a stance, front kicks popping out under pressure.

on the other end of the scale in my effort to move i've forgotton handy aspects of what i did learn, or they don't come out anymore

cheers

paul

The breathing is the one mate...i've even been given a book called conscious breathing
that and the old karate habits....how long to unlearn????
mick x

Like Paul, I have bad habits that originate from my traditional days of training in American Kenpo. Such as, "flailing" under pressure, and not taking the time to deliver full power in each shot. Also, I would often find that I'd be in too much of a rush to deliver as many strikes as I could, from every conceivable angle. Which made me look very peculiar on tape (it's an American Kenpo thing).

However, thanks to Lee's training I've virtually nailed most of my bad habits. Although they do rear there ugly head from time to time - So more work is needed!.

The eyes guide the intention, fill your eyes with intention and a 'hunters mindset' and they won't close.