526 - Breathwork: "Going toe to toe" drills
Part 2 of the series about preparation work for "dodge and evade" movement training
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Contents:
Going toe to toe
Question (and answer)
Why is this useful?
Learning order
Going toe to toe drill part one
4 Breath patterns to try here
How do these differ in sensation?
Why is this? Plus bonus video!
Shoved against a wall
“You can even hear his breath getting knocked out!”
Part two: 4 drill progressions. Take these ideas to the next level to increase “dodge and evade drill “ performance.
Conclusion.
Going toe to toe
In the context of fighting in general, "going toe to toe" is a commonly used term that highlights the intensity and directness of an engagement, often leading to dramatic or decisive moments in a fight. It specifically means:
Direct Physical Confrontation: Two fighters are engaging in close-quarters combat where they are directly facing each other, often exchanging blows without backing down or retreating. It's a situation where both fighters are within striking distance of one another, typically trading punches, kicks, or other strikes in a very close and intense manner.
Equal Footing: This phrase often implies that the fighters are of similar skill level, size, or strength, making for a well-matched fight. It suggests neither fighter has a clear advantage, leading to a battle of endurance, technique, or willpower.
Aggressive Fighting Style: It can describe a style of fighting where both combatants are aggressively pushing forward, trying to overpower or outlast their opponent rather than relying on defensive tactics or keeping distance.
Respect for Opponent: It’s also important to remember that here's often an underlying respect in the phrase, acknowledging that the opponent is worthy of this direct challenge. This is especially relevant to your all important “virtual opponent” - your training partner. In the survival context it is to respect what your aggressor is capable of and neither minimise or exaggerate it.
Question:
But how can this possibly be “relaxing” and useful for movement quality and increasing its potential in relation to both static and dynamic evasion skills?
In the last article, we looked at breath and it’s role in both movement and also relaxation.
Specifically, the breath pattern that I mentioned there was to use the powerful