The importance of pad holding is not to be underestimated and is a skill that requires awareness, confidence, and communication skills. Above all, it requires an understanding that the striker is the focal point in this partnership.
Here are 7 tips to help you be a better pad holder:
1. Align your foot stance
Match your partner’s foot stance to avoid obstructing their movements, commonly left foot in front. This may change if you’re holding the bag for an oizuki for example, so understand which foot will land closest to you, and set up with the opposite foot in front. Adopting a proper fighting stance not only helps to absorb the incoming strikes, but it also turns the exercise into a mutually beneficial activity reinforcing correct technique.
2. Adjust the pad height
Adjust the level of the pad based on your partner’s height and level of experience. For example, hold the pad in line with their sternum for body strikes, and move the pad to a comfortable level for kicks, depending on their flexibility.
3. Hold the pad firmly against your body
To ensure the striker doesn’t get injured by the pad moving on impact, ensure the pad is held firmly against your body to accommodate the intensity of the strike. If this is uncomfortable, you can use your arm to help absorb the intensity, provided this doesn’t compromise the striking action.
4. Keep the pad straight
Don’t tilt the pad unless instructed by your partner, for example when holding for an uppercut, or a migeri. Be mindful of your body shape as it may inadvertently tilt the pad, especially if you have a bigger chest or abdomen.
5. Avoid moving on impact
To avoid injuring your partner, don’t brace against the strike by leaning in towards it. This inhibits their ability to reach full extension, which is necessary for them to gauge and understand their range. Similarly, don’t recoil from the strike before impact, as this may cause your partner to overextend.
Coordinating your breathing with the strike makes it easier for you to absorb the impact, especially as the intensity increases. This allows your partner to explore their power range more fully and safely.
6. Stay focused
Maintain unwavering focus, ensuring your partner’s strikes land on the pad and not on your body. A lapse in concentration, or a glance around the room, disturbs the effectiveness and placement of the bag. If your partner asks you to adjust your pad, do so. It’s your job as the pad holder to facilitate the most effective kicks or punches for the striker, and maintaining your focus will make the partnership more efficient and effective.
7. Encourage your partner
Use your positive energy to get the best out of your partner. Encourage them when they are doing well, and keep them motivated when they are not.
How you hold the pad not only affects you, but it also affects your training partner. Embrace the responsibility you hold in their progress. Be patient with yourself as you learn how to do it properly, and remember if you’re unsure about anything, ask your sensei for clarification.
Osaa!