Monkey Lines

Nothing reveals movement errors quite like the monkey line drill. (Keep in mind that we WANT to reveal errors. We don’t want them hiding in the shadows and popping out when we are put under stress. We want them out in the open so that they can be acknowledged, addressed and corrected.) Okay, it’s not strictly true that nothing reveals movement errors like the monkey line. Plenty of other drills reveal errors. Maybe it is closer to the truth to say that the monkey line is a fabulous evaluative tool.

Do you drop your hands when you kick? If so, you are bound to drop them when you kick in a monkey line. Do you stop and lock down your stance when you go to strike? If so, you are bound to exhibit the same behavior in a monkey line.

To wit: so much is going on in a monkey line that you will make all the errors that you normally make when you do basics but they will be more glaring and they will have bigger consequences. Drop your hands and you will get hit in the head. Stop moving your feet and you will get swarmed by multiple opponents.

This week seems like a fabulous week to focus on monkey lines and in so doing, choosing one error that each student makes (myself included) and trying to remedy that mistake.