Totem-Pole
Settings & Setup
- Game #10 (Hitmeter)
- Health setting: Start at level 1
- Time: infinite
- 1 vest on a BOB/Wavemaster/Bag
- 1 – 20 people per bag
- Skill Level: beginner to intermediate color belts
Gameplay
Line up the students in front of the bags with the 2020 Armor vest on the bag and start the game. Put the health power level at 1.
Each person in the line delivers 1 kick or punch (you can tell them which kick or punch to do as well)
If the person gets the lights to the end of the health bar (to the white area), then they are still in the game and go to the back of the line.
If they can not max out the bars, they step to the side and sit down.
Increase the health to level two and repeat the process. If they can max it out, they go to the back of the line, if they can not, they move aside and sit down.
If no one can max out the lights at that level, then whoever gets it to the highest wins.
What They Are Learning
In this game, the students are learning about power and how their technique differs from others. They learn instantly what kicks and punches are more powerful and what is not.
You can use this opportunity to describe to the students that power is both a combination of technique and speed. If you have better technique the lights will go up further. If you move faster, the lights will go up more. If you combine both fast speed and good technique, the power will be at the highest.
Power is also an indicator of strength, so if their techniques have power, or you are seeing they have more power over time, this means that they are also getting stronger.
You can use this opportunity to show the students how subtle changes in technique can increase power. For example, if they are doing a roundhouse kick, you can show a roundhouse kick with and without hip rotation. The vest will show the kick with less hip rotation having less power. You can demonstrate with other aspects of technique as well such as snap, surface area, speed, etc.
Lastly, because this is a game where the students are comparing their technique with other students, you can also use this as an opportunity to tell the class to watch how the more powerful techniques are done and how they can emulate the good ones.
