Cross Motor Exercise
It is best to incorporate this exercise into your training only after you can consistently complete the double doodle blocking routines with a few or no errors. When you are able to complete these without errors it will be a good indication that both hemispheres of your brain are working in cooperation. Make a stance and prepare to block and/or punch and strike. This time move your arms at the same time but perform different blocks. For instance block up with your left arm, and down with your right. Block inside with your left arm, and outside with your right. Use any combinations of blocks and strikes to develop your co-ordination. We like to use foam attacking sticks to bring this exercise to life (see video).

What cross motor blocking does
This blocking/striking routine, will develop the ability to ask each side of the brain to send a different instruction to the side of the body that it operates, simultaneously. At the same time co-operation and communication must take place between the hemispheres in order to:
1. Ensure each side performs a different technique to the other.
2. Maintain balance in the system.
3. Both techniques occur at the same moment.
4. Move both arms simultaneously through space (often shard space) to a new finish position.
This bilateral activity, will also establish directionality and orientation in space relative to the midline of the body, (as does waving hands like clouds). It exercises eye teaming abilities and assists in developing hand-eye co-ordination. This will enhance fine and gross motor skills and very often improves hand writing and drawing abilities.