Many martial artists are regularly looking for an improvement in how they perform. While it is easy to "rest on one's laurels" after achieving a certain belt level or certification, improving upon what you may know is more fulfilling. The only way to master anything is through continuous improvement and practice.
You can continue to stay where you're at and that's fine if that's all you want as a martial artist. For those that want more, then it is time to take your training to a higher level. So what are the ways that you can make massive improvements?
1. Practice outside the dojo. Find out if what you've learned will work on the street. I'm not saying to get into a street fight either. What I am saying is to train in your regular street clothes. Training on a hard surface such as asphalt or concrete will help you to realize that falling on such surfaces can really hurt you. When you train in regular street clothes, you will notice that you have to make changes in stance and movement. That includes the type of shoes you wear will also affect your movement.
2. Train with your instructor's teacher or higher. By finding out where and who your instructor trained with, you'll learn some things that you may not have known. Additionally, you will be taught movements that may have been "watered down" by your own instructor.
3. Learn from the original location, including the country of origin. When I studied Shorin Ryu Karate, my learning came from a master in Okinawa. What I learned there was the type of tools that were used was not being used here in the United States. Also, the training was much harder and rougher. The mindset was also different.
4. Train in different types of martial arts. By learning other arts, your mind will be expanded by the possibilities of how they can be incorporated into your own art. Brazilian MMA & UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Lyoto Machida has a strong base in Shotokan Karate because of his Japanese father. He also cross-trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai, and Sumo. Many of the top MMA champions also have studied many different arts. So should you.
5. Use mental training techniques such as visualization, meditation, and self-hypnosis. Mental training has been used by the top athletes in every major sport. Mental training will enable you to do better in your katas, sparring, and help you to adapt your art to the street by visualizing those types of situations.
Bonus: Get yourself fitter and healthier by exercising right and eating right. Both of these will improve every aspect of your training as well as your art. A fit martial artist is a more effective martial artist. You can use weight training, circuit training, interval training, and cardio training. Yoga is also a great fitness routine that works the mind and body as well as flexibility.
Have fun making improvements as well as getting fit.
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Bob Choat works as a Peak Performance Coach & Trainer and is focused on performers in every industry reach a higher level in their lives. They include business executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, actors, speakers, and other potential peak performers.
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