Getting Fast In The Martial Arts

As we progress through the martial arts, how do we develop speed?

How do we get fast?

Naturally speed is important in the martial arts, but as a movement tool we don’t want to count on just that.

Be quick, be fast, but also understand and command distance, timing, balance, and rhythm.

So how do we develop speed in the martial arts?

Repetition of movement is the first step- practicing your footwork, body postures, and movement patters over and over again so you don’t have to think about it, all you have to do is move.

Working on flexibility is the second step- what is your martial arts stretching routine.

Now a third step- one that you can use real-time in your training.

Practice your martial arts training drill for a few minutes, at a moderate pace. Maybe it is a footwork drill, or a pattern, or kata. After five or so minutes in, pause and return to a natural posture, close your eyes and assess your body structure.

Are there any points on your body that are still and or holding tension?

What stress points are you feeling?

Work on using stretching, massage, and adjustments on these points.

Directly targeting real time the points on your body that are slowing you down.

The reverse of kyusho.

See you on the mat!