With grading and several big competitions coming up soon you might be thinking you need to get in some more training. Well your training doesn't have to be confined to the dojo... instead use resources at home to step up your game and improve your Martial Arts style!
If you were in school and wanted to get an "A", it would take extra effort outside of class, right? The same is true with Martial Arts. These five methods for improving Martial Arts outside of the dojo can help you begin some "A" level skills today.
1. BODY MECHANICS
You will be able to gain so much more from your in-class sessions if you aren't spending the time worrying if your body is actually capable of doing them. So to help this along, try stretching at home for flexibility, cardio exercise for longevity and strength training for consistent output throughout the class. Every style of Martial Arts will be aided by improved body mechanics to pull of certain movements, and the benefit of being fitter in your everyday life shouldn't be discounted either!
2. GOAL SETTING
Setting goals allows you to choose how you want to move through life and in Martial Arts. Some achievements can take what may seem like a lifetime to attain, like your black belt, while others can be completed in a much shorter time period, like weight loss.
Remember to keep your goals S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely). There is no benefit in just saying "I wanna be a Black Belt". But setting a clear and defined goal such as "By the end of the year, I want to have learnt all the katas necessary for my Black Belt grading and have Hanshi Paul approve", then proceeding to evaluate your grogress as you go, will do wonders for your development.
3. NUTRITION
"You only get out what you get in"... so if you are at home putting in junk food and soft drinks, your body will not be able to cope with a high level of training when you come to class. Enjoying a balanced diet, particularly on training days will allow you to get the most out of your sessions.
If you want to know exactly what to eat for your Martial Arts workout, CLICK HERE to read more.
4. ONLINE RESOURCES
There is an incredible amount of Martial Arts information available online nowadays. You can find out just about any technique or drill that you could ever need on YouTube. However, we recommend that you use this as a means of perfecting things that you are already good at. Learning techniques from scratch online often leads to confusion without an instructor there to correct mistakes. This method of learning is much easier to apply when you already have a solid fundamental understanding of the techniques explained and you can simply develop your arsenal.
5. JUST PRACTICE
At the end of the day, if you want to get better - Start practising.
The best part about home training is there is no pressure and influence around you, so you can practice at your own pace, doing the things that you want to do.
If you are interested in classes for yourself or someone else, CLICK HERE to book your free class at IMC.
