Objective
Teach juniors how to support each other, fight with tactical awareness, create space for teammates, and respond to trouble as a group.
The emphasis is clean striking, angles, communication, and staying calm when working with others.
Equipment Needed
- Kick shields or large pads
- Bags (if you have no assistants)
- Cones or a marked safety zone
Setup
Juniors line up in rows.
Explain that in self-defence and in training, teamwork matters.
If one person is in trouble, the others can help or seek help.
Good teamwork means supporting each other, moving smartly, and staying controlled.
Drill Breakdown
1. Demonstration: Wild vs Tactical
Start with a wild, messy demonstration on a kick shield to show what juniors should not do.
Then show a clean, technical striking combo, always taking an angle and moving intelligently.
Explain why wild swings and elbows get in the way of teammates.
Let juniors practise the clean combo one by one, focusing on staying in control and using angles.
2. Team Striking – Understanding Shared Space
Pick one junior and bring them out to demonstrate.
Tell this junior that they must strike the pad at the same time as you.
While striking, purposely get in their way to show how hard it is to work together without awareness.
Stop, explain teamwork again:
Both partners need to create space, use angles, and strike cleanly so they do not collide.
No wild shots. No elbows. Just clean, precise striking.
Let groups of two practise this together.
Instructor keeps reminding them about angle, space, and communication.
Add the command:
- “Run to safety”
Both sprint to the safe zone on command, then return to the line.
3. Team Captain Phase
Form groups of two, three, or four (maximum four).
One child becomes the team captain.
Process:
- Short burst of striking, working together as a team.
- Captain watches the group.
- When the captain calls “Evac”, everyone must move together to the safety zone.
- Once safe, they return to the start point.
Rotate captains so everyone gets a turn.
4. Rescue Phase – Helping a Teammate
All juniors run freely around the space.
Instructor catches one junior or lightly traps them using a kick shield.
The others must notice, run over, and help.
When two or more teammates arrive, they hold the shield and strike together with clean shots and good angles.
Captain must call “Evac” so the team can escape together.
Optional Progressions
- Add simple exercises (squats or push-ups) at the safety zone before returning.
- Add a light push-away before evacuation to teach reaction and distance.
- Add a wrist grab and release drill as a variation before the team pushes to safety.
- Make the combinations slightly more advanced for higher belts.
Safety Rule
If any junior falls or trips, the group must stop, help them, and then continue.
No running around fallen teammates or stepping over them.
Helping teammates is part of teamwork and control.
Coaching Points
- Keep control high and chaos low.
- Remind juniors constantly: space, angles, communication.
- Reinforce the idea that teammates must look after each other.
- Praise clean, safe teamwork, not just fast striking.
- Keep teams small so everyone stays involved (groups of two to four).