What Happens

I talk about this idea a lot in CrossFit but I feel like I don’t hammer it home quite as much in Kung fu classes: skills need to be tested under duress. We can and do train slow, practice technique and sling theory around but at some point we need to see what happens when we are pushed.

How hard you push depends on how much you want to see. Obviously, working against a fully resisting opponent is a wonderful thing that exposes our faults and shows off our weaknesses but often it does it in such a broad way that it is tough to see our progress in a specific area. Fast speed bag work can do a pretty good job of showing us how we are doing as well. Film yourself going at the bag. How is your footwork? How is your power? How is your body connection? Do you keep your hands up? Try and see.