Training: Day of the Leopard

TRAINING:

DAY OF THE LEOPARD

Preview:

The Leopard style is about speed, agility, and brutality. It employs the leopard paw which is perfect for applying immediate pressure to soft targets. Hitting from odd angles and slipping through defense is key, as is the notion of simultaneous defense and offense. Combine with throws and sweeps to take advantage of momentary paralysis caused by the leopard paw strike.

The leopard paw strike goes as follows. 

1. Extend your fingers and thumb straight forward with no space in between. 
2. Curl your fingers and thumb at the middle knuckle (do not close the fist).

The end result is the leopard's paw. It can be used in the following ways.

1. Use the middle knuckles of the fingers to hit vulnerable targets such as the ribs, muscles, or pressure points.
2. Use the curled in fingers to claw or grip a target.

The leopard paw is most safely used off angles when your strike does not meet any oncoming force.  It is very useful as an uppercut and as a body strike. When used as a grip, it can be used to quickly grip and rake off skin, for example when grabbing an arm or an attacker's midsection.

Also in this workout, I've incorporated several basic throws and sweeps. The leopard paw can stun and grip, both of which can serve to initiate sweeps and throws. These throw are not necessarily part of Traditional Leopard Style, but I blend them into this workout.

The following is my Leopard Style inspired routine:

Warmup:

Windmills: 

• Up and Down
• Done with hand in Leopard Paw form

Strikes: 

• Leopard Paw Strike
• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Uppercut
• From the side
• Hook
• Inverted

Leg Sweeps:

• Outer Reap
• Outside Foot Sweep
• Inside Foot Sweep
• Knee Wheel
• Spinning Leg Sweep

Body Throws:

• Body Drop
• Hip Throw (Legs Together)
• Hip Throw (Horse to Half-Horse)

Footwork: 

• Knee Drop Step

Practice:                              

Drills: 

• Leopard Paw 
• Straight (Vertical and Horizontal)
• Entering Hook (Forward and Reverse Step)
• Side (Horizontal)
• Uppercut
• Entering Straight in Knee Drop
• Entering Inverted in Knee Drop
• Combinations to Throw
• Entering Straight in Knee Drop to
• Outside Foot Sweep
• Inside Foot Sweep
• Foot Sweep Combination
• Hip Throw (Front and Rear)
• Body Throw
• Reverse Hook, Pivot to Vertical Straight, Reap
• Step to Reap

Conditioning:

Arms: 

• Triceps push-up

Core:

• Bicycle sit-ups

Reflection:

              This workout focuses on quick evasive strikes, throws, and sweeps. The footwork uses the knee drop, a step that gets you low and in good position to hit the midsection and sweep. The incorporation of the knee drop also increases the workout for the legs. The mindset should be to avoid oncoming strikes and while striking simultaneously. Though the windmills are practiced, this set places a lesser emphasis on blocking. If anything, the non-striking hand will check or redirect oncoming attacks, gripping when throws are to be implemented, and only blocking an attack that slips evasive maneuvers. That said, the Leopard Paw can also be used effectively in tandem with a block. However, the position is such that the block and the Leopard Paw Strike will be simultaneous. This means that the practitioner is attacking and defending at the same time, which does fall in line with the principles of this set. That said, positioning is key in the application of these techniques. Evasion takes priority to blocking, and all movements emphasize offense even when coupled with defensive maneuvers.