I think greylings, greydwarfs, boar and necks provide targets and melee dummies, as well as the deer we shoot for food and hide, and the birds we shoot for feathers. You don't need to make practice part of your routine: you are constantly practicing as you explore, hunt and build.

Greylings are perfect melee dummies. After a while, so are greydwarfs. Want to skill-up on blocking? Stand there and let them hit your shield until you get bored. To make it more interesting, put your shield up just in time for a knock-back. Practice ducking and rolling.

When your base is mobbed, duck out and take them on, then duck back if you are losing. Don't kill an enemy with one shot if you can do it with five.