Mix It Up…
Mix It Up is a video about using and switching, three different club disciplines during training with drum beats (download).
A Beat Makes You Work Harder as Fatigue Sets In
I came away from Iran not only inspired by the training of the Zurkhaneh but also the drumming. Swinging any club or gada to a beat makes you work harder as fatigue sets in, as you try to maintain rhythm, quite mesmerising and very peaceful.
Indian Clubs
Make both sides of the brain work together and against each other by working through synchronous and asynchronous movements. It all starts with basic movements and allows for improvisation and experimentation.
Running order for exercises, outward synchronous snakes, straight arm figure eights to the sides, outward lower reels, outward heart shapes with side and back circles, then all the above swung inward, plus a couple of turns.
Gada Mace
Starting with asymmetric grip, the first sequence is done by holding the Gada with the right hand over the left. The first exercise is two-handed 10 to 2’s, then progressing to alternating single-handed 10 to 2’s. Next, come single-handed 360’s on each arm. This same sequence is then repeated with the grip reversed by holding the handle with the left hand over the right hand.
Persian Meels
In Iran, Persian Meels are referred to by combined weight, so for the purposes of this blog I will refer to, both combined and single weights.
Mil Turning starts with a pair of 9kg clubs, weighing 4.5 kg each, and then moves to a pair of 14kg clubs, weighing 7kg each. The exercises are done in single time and double time.
Long Indian Clubs
Weight 1.8kg each. These clubs swing much larger circle, and therefore are quicker and more challenging, the weight of these clubs restricts movement complexity but compensates by delivering strength and grip training. The exercises are my first attempts at half beats, which involves slowing one club and accelerating the other.
Drum Beats
The drum beats tracks from the video are available for download below, both tracks are just over ten minutes in length, which is a good length of time to swing clubs.
