Martial artists often use solo training techniques when they lack a training partner. For example, solo training might be necessary because the martial artist is on vacation, trapped at home due to a major snow storm, etc. The sections below explore various solo training drills used by many experienced martial artists when they can not attend their martial arts school.
The information on these pages and videos is meant only to reinforce and supplement the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized.
- Official School Material – If martial artists know that they will be away from their martial arts school for an extended period, they will often ask their instructor for school training documents & videos. This information allows them to prepare for upcoming belt tests and helps them to retain their existing martial arts skills & knowledge.
- Kata & Forms – Kata & forms are an important solo training technique used by most traditional martial arts students. They are designed to practice kicks, strikes, stances, etc. This section of Black Belt Wiki contains instructions & videos for a wide variety of kata & forms (i.e. Shotokan kata and Taekwondo forms).
- Solo Training – Wrestling & Grappling – This section looks at drills and equipment used by solo students of grappling martial arts such as Wrestling, BJJ, Judo, etc. It explores techniques such as grappling dummy drills, etc.
- Solo Training with Equipment – Many martial artists use training equipment such as heavy bags, Wavemasters and reflex bags in order to practice kicks & strikes when solo training.
- Solo Training without Equipment – If martial artists lack training equipment (i.e. heavy bags), many practice basic techniques via drills such as shadow boxing, “air” kicks, etc.
- Strength & Conditioning at Home – If stuck at home, many martial artists also work on improving their strength and conditioning. Strength & conditioning training can lead to more powerful grappling techniques, improved sparring stamina, stronger kicks, etc. If they do not have any equipment (i.e. dumbbells) at home, martial artists will often use bodyweight exercises, isometric exercises, etc.
- Flexibility Training – When trapped at home, martial artists will often work on improving their range of motion by practicing flexibility & stretching drills.
- Agility Training – Agility training is often performed by solo martial artists in order to improve foot speed, coordination, balance, lateral movement, etc.
Solo Training – Grappling Dummy Drills
Solo Training – Heavy Bag Drills
Solo Training – Why Kata?
Solo Training – Shadow Boxing Drill Example