Martial arts tips

[Gyakuto]

Could you please show a picture of one of these? I want to get one but need to be sure I get the correct style.

They like this but have a valve on the bottom for inflation. The problem is they’re very wide and mounting them can be difficult and they’re about £100!

I use a cheapo £15 board but they’re more challenging.

I was showing off in the gym yesterday, doing single leg squats on their inflatable board. I received rapturous applause, cheering followed by chanting of my name and being hoisted on the shoulders of my compadres…in my head anyway

 

[Gyakuto]

My set up…

 

[Tigerwarrior]

View attachment 32233
They like this but have a valve on the bottom for inflation. The problem is they’re very wide and mounting them can be difficult and they’re about £100!

I use a cheapo £15 board but they’re more challenging.
View attachment 32234

I was showing off in the gym yesterday, doing single leg squats on their inflatable board. I received rapturous applause, cheering followed by chanting of my name and being hoisted on the shoulders of my compadres…in my head anyway

Oh OK. I think I've used one of these at physical therapy before. Thanks for showing me which ones you were talking about. I'll have to get one.

 

[HighKick]

Doe acupuncture have any effect on it?

No

 

[Gyakuto]

No

Have you tried waving a warty toad, in a small ale-soaked hessian bag, over your legs just before trying the acupuncture? This will energise the woo woo.

 

[Gyakuto]

Improve your balance with daily use of a wobble board. Having impeccable balance will bring your martial arts skill along in leaps and bounds. Much of what we do involves holding or transitioning our centre of balance over one foot so building rock-solid proprioception and an iron vestibular system is vital. Just standing on a wobble board is challenging for most, but 10 minutes, twice a day will improve you balance and it is transferable to martial arts. It is especially important as one ages; balance deteriorates with increasing age making one more susceptible to falls and serious fractures!

Tips for use:

1) When balancing on both feet, line your ankles up with the diameter line.
2) When balancing on one foot, line the centre point between your lateral and media malleolus (or the talus) above the boards centre.

Just as an updated on wobble board training; Almost like a switch has been flicked I’ve gone from wobbling all over the place and swearing in frustration to being able to balance with minimal wobble, indefinitely even on one leg! There were points where I thought I’d never improve then suddenly…it’s easy.

Give it plenty of time and persevere.

 

[Tigerwarrior]

Just as an updated on wobble board training; Almost like a switch has been flicked I’ve gone from wobbling all over the place and swearing in frustration to being able to balance with minimal wobble, indefinitely even on one leg! There were points where I thought I’d never improve then suddenly…it’s easy.

Give it plenty of time and persevere.

You practice Japanese swordsmanship right? I know there are a few arts of that like kendo kenjutsu etc. I've did fma for a few years and I'm interested in trying out jma weapons. I think there might be a kendo club at the local college.

 

[Tigerwarrior]

Here's a tip: practice your forms! And practice them at different intensities and speed and power on different days. One day you might do them slow for technique, another day you might focus on speed and power. Forms are great because they are a full body exercise. You can gain speed,power, strength and timing from practicing them. One thing I noticed is that since I've backed off from strength training for a bit, I been doing just forms. And I hit harder now from all the forms practice than when I was doing more strength training but less forms. I have lost a tiny bit of strength but I'm hitting harder and moving quicker. So it was worth it to me.

 

[isshinryuronin]

And I hit harder now from all the forms practice than when I was doing more strength training but less forms

Kata improves your biomechanics and "body feel" to allow you to deliver/express your strength more effectively. For a striking martial artist strength training is fine as a supplemental exercise but should be in a supporting role, not taking away from MA training.

My weight training is geared mainly to those exercises that directly relate to MA: Lower back (extensions, twisting, side bends) upper thighs, hips and abs to strengthen core; side and forward leg lunges; lats; and weight pulleys doing outside and low block movements. I use the maximum range of motion my body and gym equipment allow for each exercise.

Tip: Don't try to get power from your arms doing kata. Keep the body relaxed (and fast) and concentrate on core mechanics. This is much more effective than using muscle mass.