Start this drill off by explaining to the students that Speed is a very important physical trait. Speed is the momentum that brings all of our techniques together and makes them successful. We can have nice technique, but if we do not execute the technique with momentum, the technique will not be successful.
There are different types of speed. The type of speed we are working on today is called relative speed. Relative speed is how fast something is between point A and point B. For instance, how fast your punch or kick goes from your chamber to your target.
Because when we are in our fighting stance our jab hand is the closet hand to our target, is one reason that the jab is the fastest hand technique that we can execute. (Have the students execute 5 to 8 quick jabs.)
(Move on to explain that the fastest kicks in martial arts are front leg kicks because of their distance from the target. Have the students execute 5 to 8 quick front leg front kicks and 5 to 8 front leg rear kicks.)
Our next type of speed is called reaction time. Reaction time is not like relative speed, how fast something is from point A to point B. Reaction time is how fast you decide that you need to go from point A to point B, and then how fast you do it. So a very important part of reaction time is decision making. Decide what to and when to react.
Next as the students are in their class formation, give them a number that will identify the techniques that they have just executed. A #1 is for a jab, #2 is for a front leg front kick, and #3 is for a front leg round kick.
As you give the number commands, the students should then throw the appropriate technique. Call out the numbers in order a couple of times, and then mix the numbers up and finally call the numbers quickly to better test their reaction time.
