A question about reflexes

[EarthElement]

Well its been a long time for me since i last did MA. As a result, my reflexes seem to have slowed way down, and i have became quite slow and unable to react quickly to moves. My question is, whats the best way to train your reaction time/reflexes? I know a lot of people say sparring, and thats very true, but is there any other way you have found successful or have heard is successful?

I know another aspect of dodgeing or blocking (strikes, tackles, etc.) is the ability to predict what your opponent is about to do and react accordingly. Now, im pretty sure the only way to work on this is sparring, and this aspect is probably a good half of evading your opponent, but for now im just more interested in my speed/response time.

I'm sorry if this topic has been brought up, (i dont have a doubt in my mind it has many many times) but please give a noob a little advice.

Thank you.

[parkerlineage]

If by reflexes, you mean while fighting, here is my advice:

Practice key moves over and over and over until they become second nature. The best martial artists don't have reflexes, they have reactions (I should write that one down).

Preaction (I made that word up), or reading your opponent's movements before they happen, will only come with experience. It will probably be a personal thing as to how quickly that (re)develops.

I'm all over the made-up-words/phrases charts tonight.

[P.A.L]

i think working with weights also increase your speed.

[cross]

whats the best way to train your reaction time/reflexes? I know a lot of people say sparring, and thats very true, but is there any other way you have found successful or have heard is successful?

There are alot of options,

1 peice of equipment i found useful is a peice of elastic with a tennis ball on one end and a headband on the other. You may have to do a bit of searching to find 1 for sale. Or you can make it yourself.

The idea is that the ball should hang down around stomach height and you punch it straight out in front of you, alternating hands each time. This gets your reflexes and hand-eye co-ordination working.

An important thing to consider is the actual techniques your using when reacting. The idea should be to apply your techniques in a way that makes them work in a majority of cases without requiring a great deal of timing or super quick reflexes.

[Jeet Kune Do]

i think working with weights also increase your speed.

I think that too

[jaymac]

I like to practice my reaction time with a partner. I have someone punch at me and practice my blocks and strikes against them, asking them to increase their speed each time and not do me any favors by aiming away from me. If I get hit, I need to move faster. It not only helps me with reflexes, but I noticed that it has helped my focus and control.

[Jay]

i get someone to throw a ball at me from a certain set distance i then go about blocking and dodging it

[Aodhan]

Well its been a long time for me since i last did MA. As a result, my reflexes seem to have slowed way down, and i have became quite slow and unable to react quickly to moves. My question is, whats the best way to train your reaction time/reflexes? I know a lot of people say sparring, and thats very true, but is there any other way you have found successful or have heard is successful?

I know another aspect of dodgeing or blocking (strikes, tackles, etc.) is the ability to predict what your opponent is about to do and react accordingly. Now, im pretty sure the only way to work on this is sparring, and this aspect is probably a good half of evading your opponent, but for now im just more interested in my speed/response time.

I'm sorry if this topic has been brought up, (i dont have a doubt in my mind it has many many times) but please give a noob a little advice.

Thank you.

Slight misconception. You train reactions, you are born with reflexes.

Basically, a reflex is a hardwired neuronal path from a sensor area to the brain, to react to a specific stimulus in a specific way. Pain reflex, etc. (The knee jerk is a reflex that is actually designed to avoid injury in overstretched tendons.) You don't have to think about them, they just work.

Reactions are slower because they are brain involved. You have to recognize something (Such as a punch) and send a signal to your body to move, block, whatever. The more used you get to avoiding something, the faster your body will become because the brain becomes less involved. It does this by training the nerves and muscles to react automatically to a perceived stimulus. You can get a reaction to APPROACH the speed of a reflex, but it will never be as fast as a reflex (Even if the difference is unmeasurable without instruments).

So the best way is repetition, repetition, repetition. Various dodging/striking/counterstriking drills, over and over will hone your reactions and get them faster.

The good new is if you had good reactions once, you can get them again, with some allowances for the aging process.

Aodhan

[MizuRyu]

Aodhan hit the nail right on the head with the repetition thing. Weight training only increases speed if done with light/medium weight and with high reps, but for the most part speed is 90% mental.