This course ties together a selection of fundamental techniques to significantly enhance your martial arts skills. Learn how to execute powerful striking combinations with concentrated power. The course is rooted in kickboxing but has universal appeal. The techniques covered here are applicable to all styles of martial arts. The course follows on from Martial Arts Striking Techniques from the same series. Here we learn how to evolve your practice not only from one session to the next, but moment by moment. By remaining fully involved and creatively aware, you open up limitless possibilities for your ongoing progress. You then organise your mind and body awareness in such a way that you create an atmosphere of optimal functioning. Whether you are big, small, athletic, fit, or otherwise, it is possible to enhance your functioning according to your present capabilities, and then blossom from there.
To stay fit, it is recommended that you practice regularly. However due to injuries and packed schedules, many people find regular sustained practice difficult. Furthermore, not everybody wants to become a fully fledged martial artist. But it can be hugely beneficial to learn Martial arts in order to increase your health, fitness, and power. Therefore, it is possible to practice in an mindful way, with an emphasis on feeling the internal forces working through you. This is the meaning behind internal martial arts. The external side of martial arts works at the level of muscular development. Choose the emphasis that suits your own needs right now. And do it at your own pace, wherever you like.
To be an effective Martial Artist, one must gain mastery over their four limbs. This includes practicing footwork, punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, as well as offensive and defensive skills. In doing so, you will learn more about how to move more generally in everyday life. We learn by doing, and any amount of light practice can be beneficial. The more we align ourselves to an activity in a meaningful way, the better the atmosphere for progression and the more enthusiasm we have. Once you have established this atmosphere of body and mind, there is little more to do other than reap the benefits and continue on the path.
Long term progress is ensured by sustained effort over time, rather than just one off all-or-nothing practice sessions. For example, just by going through these exercises for 10-20 minutes per day can positively boost your system. Just engaging in the warm up can give you a significant mental and physical boost! By practicing martial arts movements you will build strength and power, learn effective self defence, and invigorate your body and mind. This is the goal of martial arts, to bring the body and mind to peak physical condition, whatever your level of capability. By practicing the fundamentals regularly, you will ensure that your physical tools and mind remain razor sharp. This attitude of perseverance is the most valuable of training partners, so keep it as a constant companion.
No previous experience of martial arts required. It is helpful to have the training equipment, but the main thing is a willingness to learn and use what you have. If you don't have a heavy bag for instance, you can perform shadow boxing, a free flowing exercise where you fight an imaginary opponent. As an exercise, this is one of the best. You can even do it outdoors! Just remember to do a basic warm up and wear suitable loose clothing where possible. Ideally, practice should be done on a flat dry surface. However, suppose you live at the South Pole. Then this is the environment you have to train in, taking the necessary safety precautions to avoid injury and just using what you have. In everyday life for example, you often find yourself walking across uneven terrain. This can be turned into an exercise which requires your concentration in order to maintain equilibrium. You might be stuck in a flat unable to disturb your neighbours. Use this as a way of creating the least disturbance possible as an exercise in self control. Imagine that you are having to perform the techniques in a confined space, which has been the reality for many martial artists. Constraints can be used as a way of developing skills in creativity and problem solving for instance. Today, due to declining physical activity, it is more important than ever to regularly sharpen the body and mind by using them at their full capability according to your level of development and fitness..
