How Game-Based Martial Arts Training Builds Real Fighting Skills
- Deryk Jacobsen
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
Most people think teaching martial arts is about standing in lines, yelling "hi-ya!" and doing 500 pushups. I teach kids and adults how to fight by turning it into a game. Not a metaphorical “game of life” thing. I mean actual games. Like dodgeball but with punches. Like tag but with takedowns.
One of the games we play is called Knee Slaps. The goal is simple: slap your partner’s knee while they try to slap yours. What it teaches, though, is incredibly deep. It forces players to use wrestling down blocks, create angles, and attack openings, without even realizing they’re practicing real wrestling shots.
Why Games Work Better Than Drills (Sometimes)
Games Build Fight IQ
Because there’s a live, resisting opponent in front of you (not just a limp noodle), you’re forced to react, adapt, and strategize in real time. That kind of pressure builds what fighters call “fight IQ” — the ability to solve problems under stress.
Does it turn kids into Jon Jones or Demetrious Johnson overnight? No. But it does build the kind of tactical brain that’s critical for real-world self-defense.
Games Train the Important Stuff: Timing & Distance
The two most important skills in any martial art?Timing and distance management.
Can you spot an opening and attack at the right moment?
Can you stay out of range without wasting energy?
Games naturally force you to develop both, because that’s how you win. Whether you’re trying to land a jab or shoot for a leg, the game pushes you to time your movement and manage space better with every rep.
Games Make It Fun (and That Means More Reps)
Martial arts is hard. It’s not for everyone. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.
Some coaching blogs say you should switch activities every five minutes to keep kids engaged. I disagree — if the drill is boring, sure. But when it’s a game, I’ve seen kids (and teens and adults) go 15–20 minutes straight without a single complaint.
They’re getting in reps. They’re sweating. And they’re smiling. Try getting that from shadowboxing for five minutes in a world full of TikTok and tablets.
The Negatives (Yes, There Are a Few)
Games can’t do everything.
If all I ever taught were games, my students would miss the technical foundation:
How to shoot a proper takedown
How to throw a clean jab or cross
How to chamber a roundhouse kick
That stuff still matters. It builds discipline, attention to detail, and a deeper understanding of the movement. Games add chaos and reaction, but traditional drills build the base that makes it all work.
Conclusion: Play Hard, Fight Smart
Games aren’t fluff. They’re how I sneak in the hardest, most valuable parts of fighting: adaptation, pressure, timing, distance, and fun.
I’ve seen more skill growth from one week of games than from a month of traditional kata.
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Come train — and bring your inner 7-year-old. He’s got good instincts.