My students battle

After spending a few class teaching several scratch moves (foward, stab, military, and transformer), it was time to test their skills. Battling focuses all your energy, causing you to pull on everything you've learned so far. It applies enough pressure to give you a feel for what it's like to operate when the stakes are high. And it gives you a reason to use and improve your critical thinking skills.

I could tell students to analyze their scratches and improve them, but this wouldn't provide a reason why. When they battle, immediately, they perceive and think of ways to improve. AND, they have a reason to practice.

Here's one of the battles. You can also, hear that this helps the students learn to count to the music.