Advice on Training Methods

Training methods are probably the most important single element of becoming an effective martial arts practitioner. If you test your techniques in a realistic environment, the techniques that work and the ones that do not will become clearly apparent. However, it is unreasonable to assume that a technique will work against full power attacks in a random setting without a good deal of training. This is where progressive training methods come into play.
The fist step with any technique is to learn proper execution. This can most easily be done in a completely cooperative environment with feedback from your partner. Begin by practicing a technique slowly. When moving fast it is far more difficult to identify particular problems. After you feel comfortable with a technique, begin adding progressive speed and/or resistance.
The next step is to drill the technique in a realistic environment, but isolated to the particular technique vs. a particular response. If the technique is a strike, it can be drilled against pads, or thrown at a partner. But, the partner will limit his response so that you can work on your technique without getting confused by his reactions. If the technique is a counter attack, your partner should come at you with one particular attack so that you can drill your response with ease. The same can be applied to throws, locks, chokes, etc. When you become comfortable applying a technique against a particular attack, adding progressive speed and resistance, you should begin drilling it against a variety of attacks in the same manner.
The final step is to integrate the technique into sparring. You can begin by limiting the scope of sparring, until you are comfortable with sparring with no technical limitations. You may begin using one attack against your partner who is also using only one attack. You may progress to drilling your one attack against your partner using multiple attacks. You can both use a variety of attacks and counters only with the hands or only with the feet. You can isolate sparring so that only the clinch is allowed, so that one practitioner attempts to clinch and the other to maintain unattached stand up, and so on.
The following is an example of a possible sparring progression for use with a particular technique in mind:
1. Single attack vs. single defense
2. Single attack and defense vs. single attack and defense
3. Limited multiple attack and defense vs. same
4. Single attack vs. limited multiple attack and defense
5. Stand up only, any attack and defense vs. same
It is also extremely important to spar with both limited areas and tools allowed, and with no limitations on areas or tools. The following is an example of a progression that spans a variety of areas:
1. Empty hand stand up vs. same
2. Empty hand clinch vs. same
3. Stand up vs. clinch
4. Stand up and clinch vs. same
5. Ground fighting vs. ground fighting
6. Ground fighting vs. ground escape
5. Stand up, clinch, and ground vs. same
6. Stand up vs. stand up, clinch, and ground
7. Empty hand stand up vs. stand up knife
8. Empty hand vs. knife, all areas
9. Empty hand vs. hidden knife
10. Stick vs. stick
11. Stick vs. knife
12. Etc.
13. All areas and weapons allowed at random
For self-defense application, the practitioner needs to be comfortable sparring in all areas with any weapons allowed at random. As far as sparring goes, there are many different configurations of intensity and protective gear. Sparring can be done with low intensity, light contact, and no gear, with high intensity, heavy contact, and full gear, or anything in between.
Finally, I would recommend not separating techniques from footwork. In any case, your opponent will be moving. If you strike him he will most likely move back, to the side, or down. If you miss him, it will likely be because he moved in some way. And, if you are close enough to strike your opponent without moving, you are too close. He can also strike you. Footwork is the way to control distance and position, and it also adds a great deal of power to your attacks. When drilling a technique, include the footwork.