As the name suggests, these drills are designed to train your mind, as much as your body, to perform past the point of exhaustion. The focus is more about continuing past the point when you think you can't continue than proper form.

When faced with an attack on the street in which you have to fight for your life, within seconds hormones are released in your body that can be exhilarating but also totally exhausting. You cannot stop fighting in a real life situation because you are tired. These drills train you to continue the fight until you are safe no matter how fatigued you may be.

Fatigue Drills

Fatigue Drill 1

You will need a partner and a punch shield.

• Throw nonstop Straight Punches to the shield. (Chapter 13, page 149)

• When your partner cues you, drop and do 5 pushups.

• Burst back up onto your feet and throw nonstop punches again.

• Continue this drill for a total of 60-seconds. Once you have built up some endurance, increase the time in increments of 30 seconds.

Fatigue Drill 2

For this drill you will need a medicine ball of proper weight as well as enough space for you to move about freely enough to perform the drill without obstruction.

• Perform pushups with the medicine ball until your partner yells “go!”

• Sprint down to where your partner is standing with a kick shield and perform ten strong Front Kicks. (Chapter 14, page 160)

• Sprint back to your medicine ball and repeat pushups until your partner calls the next cue.

• Continue this drill for a total of 2 minutes.

• Increase the difficulty by alternating from kicks to punches each time you return to the punch/kick shield.

You can increase the number of kicks or punches you throw at the shield, and you can increase the time you perform the drill. To make it interesting, try vertical jumps, pushups, squats, or tossing the medicine ball between the kicks and punches. Mix it up!