As a teacher, we understand the importance of basics. We can see when a student has poor basic skills because it shows in their forms and techniques. We can also see when a student has great basic skills because it shows in everything they do.

Now, students, on the other hand, do not always see this. Many in fact think basics are not worthy of working on. You know how to do an elbow, why not do the elbow with a step and some other moves now? Many don't understand why you have to work on basics all the time.

And many won't listen to your reason. They want techniques. They wants forms. They want to be able to instantly feel like they have climbed the ladder towards the next belt.

So, we as instructors need to add some sneakiness to teaching basics. And here are some ideas on how to drill the basics.

• Standard Drill: This is the usual. All students face the instructor and execute the basic technique on the instructor's command. This is the usual and also one of the most boring. A way to simply build from this option is to have it early on as a warm-up option.
• Switch / Punch: Same as above. Just add a switch on the instructor's count to switch stances and execute the basic.
• Forward / Back / Switch: Same as above. Just add two other options that the instructor can call out-- "forward" or "back" to have the students shuffle forward or back or switch when they do their basic.
• Circle of Basics: Have the students circle around facing the center and do the various drills already mentioned. You can also do this with a domino effect of one starting followed in a domino pattern by the rest.
• Reaction Drill from the Circle: While in that circle, have one student do something and have the rest of the students react and repeat the movement.
• Partner Reaction Drill: Have students pair up and face off; one student designated as attacker, the other defender. The attacker does a move; have a defender counter with a specific like a shuffle punch, etc.
• Kids: Kids are probably the easiest. You can make a game like Red Light / Green Light into something you can drill basics with (assuming you can get them to overrid their need to win).
• Review and Apply: Assuming you know what technique is going to be worked on for the evening, build your basics review around that technique. If you are going to teach Five Swords, maybe run some drills dealing with going into the forward bow with a strike and back into the neutral bow with a second strike.
• Tear Down: Everyone needs to do a hundred punches or a fifty outward crescent kicks on each leg. Everyone. Especially since I had to.

And I am sure you can create your own methods to creatively work drills other than the usual Standard Method.

Works Consulted

• Joshua Meredith, personal experience.
• National Association of Professional Martial Artists- NAPMA