Teaching Someone to Keep Their Elbows In

**TheMightyMcClaw** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:01pm

Originally Posted by The Question

Ok, I don't mean to be read, but who the **** deleted my post?

I made an excellent point about the fact that McClaw has limited striking experience and is trying to teach striking to someone else. Isn't it obvious that he shouldn't be doing this?

Isn't it obvious that if he really wants his girlfriend to learn how to punch he should have her go to a boxing/kickboxing/muay thai gym?

Also, to add a bit of personal experience to this, sometime ago, when I actually had a girlfriend, she asked me to show her how to box. That **** was hopeless since she never punched before, and I wasn't a very good coach. You know, since I didn't ahve that much experience.

My advice is to focus on fighting and leave the coaching to the coaches.

'

-I'd like to think that three years in a karate dojo that does full contact sparring tought me something about how to punch.
-There are no good striking-based martial arts schools in Ann Arbor, aside from one shady boxing club on the edge of town.
-It's a form of bonding for me and the girl.

**The Question** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:05pm

Originally Posted by TheMightyMcClaw

'

-I'd like to think that three years in a karate dojo that does full contact sparring tought me something about how to punch.
-There are no good striking-based martial arts schools in Ann Arbor, aside from one shady boxing club on the edge of town.

What kind of karate? Also, I doubt that you can punch well enough, and understand enough of punching to coach from three years of karate, but whatever.

-It's a form of bonding for me and the girl.

That's all you had to say. I completely understand that.

But, you might want to forget about the technical ****, accept that she will never be any good at punching unless she goes to a real school, and enjoy the time you are spending togeether. That means ignoring details. But will she develop bad habits? *gasp*

If you accept this risk, **** the elbows thing. Other than "keep your elbows in", there is nothing useful to be done.

I say do what you do, and forget about the more technical side of things.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:14pm

Originally Posted by TheMightyMcClaw

'

-I'd like to think that three years in a karate dojo that does full contact sparring tought me something about how to punch.
-There are no good striking-based martial arts schools in Ann Arbor, aside from one shady boxing club on the edge of town.
-It's a form of bonding for me and the girl.

Have you hit her yet, with a real punch?

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:35pm

FYI I'm the one deleting all the posts. In case you haven't figured out the trend:
Keep focused on training and not BDSM or sandwich making.

**Kintanon** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:37pm

The wallpaper background on my phone is my fiance with a huge black eye that I gave her... We were playing around and she essentially leapt at my fist... It was spectacular.

**MaverickZ** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:42pm

Ok, assuming you DO know how to properly teach punching.

Buy two of these things:
http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Ta...e_Blocker.aspx

Then have a light sparring match with her, everytime she raises her elbows, wack her with those things. They are very padded but stiff enough to be felt. It's a good drill for that sort of thing.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:44pm

Originally Posted by MaverickZ

Ok, assuming you DO know how to properly teach punching.

Buy two of these things:
http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Ta...e_Blocker.aspx

Then have a light sparring match with her, everytime she raises her elbows, wack her with those things. They are very padded but stiff enough to be felt. It's a good drill for that sort of thing.

That is where I was headed depending on his answer. Technique is great and all of that but, a good pop to the ribs teaches better than words.

**MaverickZ** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:48pm

Originally Posted by It is Fake

That is where I was headed depending on his answer. Technique is great and all of that but, a good pop to the ribs teaches better than words.

It's good advice. But when training a significant other, specifically a female significant other, there are certain precautions and workarounds you have to develop. I've had to teach two girlfriends who I trained with, in series not in parallel. You have to do it right if you don't want to sleep on the couch that night.

***DerAuslander*** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:49pm

I said that several posts ago.
From now on, to elimante overModding for White Shark, can you all just post with

"What Errant said..."

Thank you.

**TheMightyMcClaw** · Posted On: 5/05/2008 3:53pm

Originally Posted by MaverickZ

Ok, assuming you DO know how to properly teach punching.

Buy two of these things:
http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Ta...e_Blocker.aspx

Then have a light sparring match with her, everytime she raises her elbows, wack her with those things. They are very padded but stiff enough to be felt. It's a good drill for that sort of thing.

I've got a pair of focus pads that I've been using to similar effect. I'll flash a pad, have her punch, and as her punch is returning, I'll bop her with one of the focus pads to make sure she's keeping the guard in tight.