Today the momentum only grew stronger. The girls came in full of energy and were more than ready for the new footwork and handwork drills we had planned. We had them work in pairs, taking turns as the “victim” and the “perpetrator.”
These kinds of practical scenarios are so important because they help build real muscle memory. This is something that only comes when you actually apply the techniques in action. It’s one thing to know how to throw a punch or block in theory, but in a real-life situation, your body has to react instantly. By practicing in pairs, the girls not only sharpened their targeting and timing but also learned what it feels like to face resistance.
For example, when one girl grabbed another’s wrist tightly, the “victim” had to remember to twist her arm out using the right angle, something that’s easy to forget if you only practice in the air.
Another exercise involved the “perpetrator” pretending to push or corner the other, and the “victim” had to step back with strong footwork and use her palm strike to create space. In those moments, you could see the shift where the girls realized that these weren’t just moves, they were tools they could actually use.
These drills made the training real. They helped the girls see that self-defense isn’t about fighting harder, but about reacting smarter. And with each round, their confidence grew – not just in their bodies, but in the belief that they can handle themselves if the time ever comes.
By the end of the session, the girls weren’t just practicing – they were owning the techniques.
For me, today’s session was all about giving the girls space to try, mess up, and try again.