A new martial artist's first question

[KaratePballer54]

Hey guys well this is my first topic and I've had a question on my mind for a while. I started Shotokan Karate about a month ago and ever since then, one question that I have pondered repeatedly is if you guys feel like through martial arts your reflexes have sharpened and/or your 5 senses heightened? This has always been somewhat of an interest of mine and any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

Nick

[busling]

I feel that sport in general has sharpened my reflexes. Martial arts training and my associated(sp?) learning has made me focus on my situational awareness. Hence I am much more alert as I walk the pubs and streets of my neighbourhood.

[Menjo]

Yes it did, i have faster reflexes but mostly i am more aware of things that go around me so i tend to appear react alot faster even though i knew it was coming. Its like when i spar with my sensai, no matter how fast i go theres no way i can ever get in. Thats because he knows what i am going to do it and knows everything iam going to do and how iam going to do it in the first place.

[italian_guy]

Yes, I think martial arts have some benefit on reflexes, I have notice that on myself since I practice.

I knew one guy who was a goalkeeper in a soccer team and he was cross-training in kickboxing. He told me that since he was training in MA he had the impression to see where the ball was going in advance.... it is hard to explain... like a sort of mixture of better reflexes and better awareness of body dynamics.

[Fairfax_Uechi]

I feel that sport in general has sharpened my reflexes. Martial arts training and my associated(sp?) learning has made me focus on my situational awareness. Hence I am much more alert as I walk the pubs and streets of my neighbourhood.

I know that I am much faster, and aware of things when I am practicing to my full potential. Little things like dropping my keys. When I'm practicing, I usually catch them like nothing. But when I"m taking time off, I feel slow and they usually are just beyond my reach.

And as other said, my mental state is just better when I train hard. I feel calm, and relaxed. Thoughts are clearer, and I'm just happier.

[Sauzin]

Sort of. My reflexes are about the same but my responses are better and I have more control over them. My senses are heightened as is my awareness of my body and my surroundings. I feel overall that I am better connected to my body then I was before.

[Uechi Kid]

I have also found myself doing things I wasn’t able to do before. I work in a grocery store. From time to time when I’m facing the shelves I’ll knock the item on one side or the other of the one I’m facing off the shelve. I use to be able to stop the falling item with my foot (most of the time). Now I usually catch it with my hand. Pretty cool.

[Aodhan]

Hey guys well this is my first topic and I've had a question on my mind for a while. I started Shotokan Karate about a month ago and ever since then, one question that I have pondered repeatedly is if you guys feel like through martial arts your reflexes have sharpened and/or your 5 senses heightened? This has always been somewhat of an interest of mine and any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

Nick

"Sharpening your reflexes" is a little bit of a misconception. Reflexes are nerve pathways that you are born with for self protection, such as the burn/heat reflex (Yank the hand away), or the knee reflex (Tendon stretch reflex, you have them at just about every major joint.) Since you are born with them, and they are "hardwired", or dedicated to that one thing only, they are the fastest nerve impulses in the body.

When you train something over and over (Such as a high block, or a reverese punch), the nerves and muscles get used to the motion, and kind of "groove" the motion into your body. (Yet another reason to practice it correctly the first time! ) These motions can approach the speed of a reflex, but will not ever get there, although the difference can't usually be measured objectively. It's faster than a non practiced motion, but not quite as fast as a reflex.

And yes, I have also noticed heightened sensory, but I think that is more due to me paying more attention than anything else.

Aodhan

[unknownstyle]

you start to notice thing you normally wouldnt after awhile, i find myself constantly looking around and always observing my surroundings, is that what you mean?

[KaratePballer54]

ya, observing your surroundings, reacting faster to people surprising you that sort of thing. thanks for the posts.

nick