Training notes
How to watch a round of pad work
Watch a short combination at full speed, then replay it slowly. Follow one detail at a time, such as the fighter’s step before a strike.
Range before the strike
Pause just before the combination. Look at where the partners are standing and how the pads are angled. On the replay, watch whether the fighter needs to take a step to reach the target.
The cue to begin
Watch the pad holder. When they raise or turn a pad, how does the fighter respond? Listen for a cue before the strike. Sometimes the movement is easier to see than the words are to hear.
Back to stance
Follow the combination through to the end. Where do the fighter’s hands go after the last strike? Are they back in stance before the next cue? Compare two repetitions of the same combination.