Keeping Your Balance

There are always some aspects of your training that will have a profound impact on all aspects of your progress and level of competence. Stretching and overall fitness are two elements that are frequently mentioned and deserve the attention they receive. Today I want to write about another core element in your overall development as a martial artist - balance.

In Chinese martial arts and most other fighting skills, balance is very important. Unfortunately, it also seems to be neglected by many instructors. Why this is happening I don't know, but in my experience as a trainer I have always looked at ways to incorporate balance training from the very first day. Improving your balance will help you not only with the forms, but should assist you in staying more focused during sparring and helping to deliver more accurate and more powerful attacks and defensive moves. I see many people that become frustrated that they can't deliver attacks with sufficient power and then start focusing on weight training and punching bags rather than balance. Correct weight training might help with balance, but focusing on balance alone might yield better initial results.

There are instructors today that will inform you that the style you're practicing is a right handed style and for that reason all the exercises and forms focus on the right side of the body. I think this is discriminating against our left handed friends and it also prevents us from fully developing our training into a well rounded system. If you've ever been in a sparring situation or competition, then you will know that we always seek the flaw in the other opponent. Being able to only attack with full strength from the right side would be easy to identify and would allow your opponent to use that deficiency against you. Know, to be in harmony with your body and the style, you must be able to apply your knowledge with equal effect from both sides.

But how do we achieve this balance in our daily training?

1. Start exercises with the left side first.

In this right hand world most people and martial artists tend to favor the right hand side. By starting your exercises on the left hand side, you will be able to do them with much more focus and vigor. By the time you start on the right hand side, you will have less energy and that will help to maintain a balance between the progress on the left hand side and the right hand side. Being able to focus better during the early parts will help the brain and the body to adjust so that there is a better balance between the two sides.

2. Include yoga into your daily stretching routine

There are many benefits that can be associated with yoga, but for the purpose of this article I will focus on those that will help with overall balance. Similar to martial art, yoga emphasize correct breathing habits and perform the movements and stretches with the aid of breathing. Focusing on breathing helps us to relax and should assist in gaining equal benefit on both sides. Again, do a particular stretch to the left hand side first, and then try to stretch as far on the right hand side. Try and maintain that balance. One of the core guidelines of yoga is to develop inner equilibrium and harmony, and that cannot be accomplished by favoring the one side of the body over the other. This balance that is sought through yoga will help the martial artist to improve his balance as well. The final aspect of yoga is that it tries to improve balance not only through harmony, but balance in every stance to increase awareness. If you have harmony in your strength on both sides of the body, then attaining this balance should be easier accomplished.

3. Try QiGong exercises

QiGong (Chi Kung) is also a form of exercise that tries to achieve balance and harmony through the use of breathing exercises. This is also a good way in which to start on the road of learning about the development and use of chi (energy) in your martial art training. Not only will QiGong assist in the internal balance, but it will also help you to focus on those muscles that may be slightly weaker. If for instance you were to stand in a low horse stance for five minutes, I'm sure that at some point the weaker leg muscle will start to tense up and disturb your focus. By using the knowledge gained through QiGong you will be able to focus on breathing, relaxing the muscle that is under stress and in doing so help the weaker muscles to increase to the level of the stronger muscles.

4. Look in the mirror

Once you've mastered a form it almost becomes second nature. In many cases we can do the form blind folded. One way to keep learning is by doing the mirror image of the form. The easiest way to accomplish this is to do it with a partner and doing the exact opposite. At first you will have to focus more, but you will also gain a level of understanding that goes beyond the form itself.

There are other ways as well, but these should get anybody started on ideas to create the harmony and balance that we associate with martial arts. Many frown on these techniques, complaining that they don't want to weaken the dominant side to the level of the weaker side. By applying these exercises on a regular basis from the early days will strengthen the weaker side to the level of the dominant side. Stay committed to the principles of the martial arts and go beyond the popular and the easy. Go beyond your comfort zone and gain more than you ever thought possible.

Kobus DeVilliers had extensive experience in many traditional Chinese martial art styles and more information can be found on his website here: [wushuguide.com]