Target Holding

Procedures to use when holding a target for a partner during a training drill.

Hand Targets. Hard targets serve several purposes:

They give students something to focus upon when practicing a technique.
The sound they emit when struck encourages students to use quick, powerful techniques.
The targets may be moved around to give students a moving target to hit. The direction the surface of the target faces may be changed to permit different techniques to be used in combination.
Slap hand target. Slap hand targets are constructed of two individual hand targets connected together at the handle. This means that when the target is hit properly, the two halves smack together making a loud slapping sound. When holding the target, do not hold it where it may be knocked into your face when it is struck. If you partner is much stronger that you are, you may need to hold the target with both hands.
Body Shield. Body shields are held by a partner as protection against powerful attacking techniques. They allow students to use powerful kicks or punches against a stationary or moving target. Since the target is held by another students. The target may be moved around, and, when it is hit, the absorption of the force of the attack by the target material, coupled with the absorption of force by the inertia of the target holder, helps prevent injury to the attacker and the target holder. When holding a body shield:
- Stand in low front stance with the shield held in front of the torso. You may lean into your front leg and resist the attacking force or you may relax and let your body move backward naturally with the force of the technique.
- Hold the shield firmly by its handles. When handles are located on the sides, sometimes a kicker may slide by the shield with a kick and hit one of the hands holding the shield. To prevent this, you may hold the shield by two opposite rear corners to protect the hands.
- Hold the shield firmly against your body so it may absorb the force of kicks. If it is held away from the body, when it is hit by a powerful kick, the shield will painfully slam backward into your body.
- Turn you face to the side during a kick. If a kick slides the shield upward, it may slam into your chin or nose.

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