maxstronge
White Belt
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2017
- Messages
- 6
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Hey everyone, I just discovered this place and I have to say I love it. This seems like an incredible community of like-minded people and I can't wait to start participating.
That being said, I've been thinking a lot about the core of martial arts, things that are common among different disciplines. Martial arts inherently have a physical component to them, and in order to become proficient, one needs to have certain physical attributes in order to use their skills most effectively. The sort-of universal skills I've been able to come up with so far:
Strength:
When I say strength, I don't only mean how hard you can hit (while physical strength is a factor in generating power, speed is equally if not more important). I mean strength of the body, the strength in the muscles required to lift a leg above your head, the strength to explode out of a deep stance, the strength to keep your fists strong when striking an opponent. This type of strength is cultivated with push-ups, squats, crunches, etc.
Speed:
The ability to use the muscles of your body to generate speed. As mentioned above, speed is an important factor in generating power. This indicates the speed of techniques, how quickly you can punch or kick, etc. It also is important in motion, how quickly you can run, how effectively you can utilize footwork. Speed is gained by training techniques, repeatedly engaging the muscles required to reduce resistance.
Balance:
Balance is essential in the martial arts for maintaining stability in your stance, for being able to kick effectively while keeping your equilibrium, etc. The ability to remain on your feet and in control.
Flexibility:
Flexibility in the entire body is key to success in martial arts. Overall flexibility dramatically reduces the potential for injury while training. It also opens up your options - flexibility in the legs allows kicks to the head. In addition to the increase in the tools available to you, it decreases the resistance you feel in your muscles when you kick, so you can kick harder and faster.
Cardio:
Having good cardio is crucial in any kind of combat situation, in competition or otherwise. It allows you to run for longer, which can save lives in self-defense circumstances. Good cardio lets you train harder, for longer, exerting yourself to a higher degree and increasing your gains. It is essential that you can exert yourself without getting gassed.
This is what I've been able to come up with in my thinking. Are there any more basic physical attributes that are important for martial arts that I'm forgetting? Keep in mind that I'm not talking about mental traits, like fortitude, integrity, or perseverance. I'm doing a writing project and that part is coming next - right now I'm thinking entirely about the physical traits.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to be a part of this community for a long time
That being said, I've been thinking a lot about the core of martial arts, things that are common among different disciplines. Martial arts inherently have a physical component to them, and in order to become proficient, one needs to have certain physical attributes in order to use their skills most effectively. The sort-of universal skills I've been able to come up with so far:
Strength:
When I say strength, I don't only mean how hard you can hit (while physical strength is a factor in generating power, speed is equally if not more important). I mean strength of the body, the strength in the muscles required to lift a leg above your head, the strength to explode out of a deep stance, the strength to keep your fists strong when striking an opponent. This type of strength is cultivated with push-ups, squats, crunches, etc.
Speed:
The ability to use the muscles of your body to generate speed. As mentioned above, speed is an important factor in generating power. This indicates the speed of techniques, how quickly you can punch or kick, etc. It also is important in motion, how quickly you can run, how effectively you can utilize footwork. Speed is gained by training techniques, repeatedly engaging the muscles required to reduce resistance.
Balance:
Balance is essential in the martial arts for maintaining stability in your stance, for being able to kick effectively while keeping your equilibrium, etc. The ability to remain on your feet and in control.
Flexibility:
Flexibility in the entire body is key to success in martial arts. Overall flexibility dramatically reduces the potential for injury while training. It also opens up your options - flexibility in the legs allows kicks to the head. In addition to the increase in the tools available to you, it decreases the resistance you feel in your muscles when you kick, so you can kick harder and faster.
Cardio:
Having good cardio is crucial in any kind of combat situation, in competition or otherwise. It allows you to run for longer, which can save lives in self-defense circumstances. Good cardio lets you train harder, for longer, exerting yourself to a higher degree and increasing your gains. It is essential that you can exert yourself without getting gassed.
This is what I've been able to come up with in my thinking. Are there any more basic physical attributes that are important for martial arts that I'm forgetting? Keep in mind that I'm not talking about mental traits, like fortitude, integrity, or perseverance. I'm doing a writing project and that part is coming next - right now I'm thinking entirely about the physical traits.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to be a part of this community for a long time
