5 Reasons to Warm Up before Martial Arts

Tricep and shoulder stretch

1.   Helps to avoid sprains and injuries.

One of the most important reasons for warming up, we all know this one. But how many times have we ignored it and sprained something or were lucky enough to feel a twinge.

Then stopped training and did the warm up as required.

2.   You can train at close to your capacity sooner

When the body is warm, you feel like you can hit your top performance quickly. There is something inside that is saying ‘come on, let’s go.

3.   Mentally prepares you for the session

You don’t feel like you are waiting for inspiration anymore, it is just there. You’re in the flow... the good vibes the body is experiencing during warm up are spilt over into the mental mind.

This is the body leading the mind.

4.   Gets muscles ready to work

This may seem similar to number 2. But the emphasis is on ‘work’... If your training for the day consisted of walking for say 300 metres, you could quite easily set off on such a walk with absolutely no warm-up, without any consequences.

But if doing more strenuous or unpredictable exercise, then by being already warm, you can the work.

5.   Can help pinpoint areas that need a little extra work

As you go through the warm up, stretching and movement of your limbs. You start to get a sense of the muscles that are full and ready for action...

But also the muscles that are not quite there and need a more in-depth warm up or extra training to bring them up to speed.

Please ask any questions or leave comments in the box below.

 

Thanks for taking the time.

How to Predict Your Opponents next move... An Introduction

Today we are looking at predicting your opponents’ next move...

I’ll start by saying this is not an exact science. But there will be instances where you can get this working beautifully and you just seem to know what is coming. This gives you scope to block, avoid, parry.

Rather than relying solely on this skill, it is better to treat it as one of your skill set that you can pull out when needed.

In tune

In tune

In essence, what we are discussing is not comprehensive. But we are using our powers of focus and concentration to build something special.

You are in effect, getting in ‘tune’ with your opponents’ thought process. It is this state of ‘tune’ that allows you to gauge what is coming.

Take away

Although you know what is coming, you shouldn’t:

• Wait for it
• Play your opponents game
• Plan your next move around it.

Visualise it

Visualise it

It goes without saying, that this level of art is achieved only when you have mastered the basics, trained regularly and use visualisation techniques on a regular basis...

It takes being at a higher plane, as far as martial arts is concerned and you only get there when all the basics and intermediaries are covered.

Never the less, it is worth all the effort... When on that higher plane, you’ll really enjoy your martial arts and continually find challenges to conquer along the way.

These only serve to strengthen your resolve to live a martial arts way of life, and truly experience all the wonder it brings.

How?

Pick a spot on your opponent and see everything else peripherally.

Get into his groove of movement.

Be completely relaxed, but prepared to move as required.

See yourself blocking or countering every move your opponent throws at you.

Expect to see and block whatever attack comes – Expectancy, again is based on your training and preparation for this skill to develop.

You’ll notice there is a lot of ‘expecting’ and ‘believing’ going on... It is under these conditions that the art of seeing what is coming seems to work the most.

What we have done is looked at an intro to how to predict your opponents’ next move...

As I suggested, it takes mastering the basics and quite a degree of both self confidence, belief and a belief in your art.

At this stage however, you’ll be able to regularly predict what is coming.

This is an introduction... I will revisit with more in depth information and how to in due course. But for now, it is enough to know the possibility exists... This will start to build that belief system



Thank you for taking the time, I hope you have enjoyed this post. Please leave a comment below.

Invest in a quality and Boost your confidence

A quality Gi makes a statement...

It says I’m serious about what I’m doing and I look the part.

This applies to any uniform worn for martial arts, for those who don’t wear a traditional Gi.

Preparation

Your Gi is washed, ironed and presentable. You put it on and tie up all the laces. Then tie your belt. The sense of a great training session gets you into the mood required. You are ready.

The video below shows how to tie your belt;

Pride

Wearing a Gi fills you with pride simply because of what it represents, your skill, your energy, your dedication to the art over the years.

There is also a belonging. You are part of a huge worldwide hub of martial Arts  practitioners.

Confidence

You have put it all together and the way it feels, the way it sounds all help to boost your confidence, which is an important part of Martial Arts. 

There are different types of Gi from design to thickness of the material.

It is definitely worth spending a little extra, if affordable, to get a better quality Gi.

And remember, you are representing the best of you.

This post was written to highlight the importance of the Gi you train in. Although short, I hope you found it and the video useful.

Please leave any comments in the box below

Thank you for taking the time