Due to a massive surge in cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and ventilator numbers, Ontario tightened the COVID-related restrictions three weeks ago. This is an extension of varying degrees of a lockdown since December. Despite that, the trend did not change. The province then imposed a “grey lockdown” on the entire province two weeks ago. Unfortunately, that did not affect the case numbers at all. Also, cell phone mobility data indicated no change despite the restrictions. Finally, on Thursday, April 15th, the province issued a “stay at home” order that will last through May 20th. The odds are that it will probably extend beyond that date.

That said, I have a lot of time on my hands. For the past year, I have analyzed many Modern Arnis and Filipino Martial Arts videos and have developed a list of solo training drills. While it can’t replace live training, I hope to keep myself sharp and minimize the rust.

Last year, I created a list of “Attacking Combinations.” I had gotten bored with the usual solo training drills and decided to expand them. Call it “lockdown boredom.” Hence, this list.

If you are not able to view this video, click here.

I decided to make this available to my students and to anyone who might be interested. It might help with lockdown boredom! Go here.

In the year since I released the video, I have, in fits and starts, expanded my list of solo training drills and combinations. It has gotten large enough that I am rotating through them daily. Nearly all of them are focused on tapi-tapi combat applications. Since I am still watching and analyzing videos, I don’t doubt that I will keep expanding that list.

If there’s one upside to the lockdowns, it has forced me to become more creative in my solo training. Otherwise, I would go up the wall from doing the same thing repeatedly. As indicated above, the inspiration for new drills comes from analyzing videos, particularly training videos with my students.

Often, I see a practical sequence that I’ve forgotten. I then test it out as a solo drill or sequence. To date, I have found it viable for solo training 95% of the time.

Lockdown boredom, be gone!

Not only have I created new solo training drills, but I have also regrouped them. I have to find a way to appropriately group 88 drills (yes, you read that right!) and sequences that I’ve come up with. By grouping them, I can rotate through one or two groups of drills per day. It seems like the smart thing to do. I will probably keep expanding the list. And one day, I’ll step back and say, “Now is the time to pare this down to its essentials.” But not yet.

At this point, I am not sure that I will produce another solo training video. First, I have yet to order them for filming purposes. Ordering them for personal solo training is one thing but quite another for video purposes. Second, the first video didn’t exactly sell like hotcakes. HA! Thirdly, while the pandemic is not quite over, there is light at the end of the tunnel. This means that folks will migrate to live training and away from solo training. That said, I think I have come up with some cool stuff.

Have you done the same for yourselves on a personal basis?

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