Yes, all technique and kata are partnered. Typically, we don't wear protective gear at all. Instead of going at full pace and pulling strikes, we tend to train at partial speed but full force and penetration. As you become more relaxed and develop good alignment, you need to begin re-introducing tension into your movement while training bareknuckle. At times, more commonly amongst our dan-grades, we will put on helmets and chest protectors to practice the kata full speed and full force.
We have a couple randori exercises. In one exercise, everyone lines up and, one at a time, approaches a single student who must do something do defend against an attack. With low kyu grades, we typically only throw a high straight punch and not much resistance. Higher ranks recieve progessively more various and forceful attacks. A variation on this, everyone makes a circle around the "defender" and one at a time we randomly attack him or her from any direction.
Occasionally we will throw on some gear and do full-out sparring, empty handed or with shinai. We also will do free-response kuzushi exercises from a clinch.
We haven't done nearly as many free-response drills or randori lately as I would like, but this is largely due to the high number of new students in the dojo. |