Tips

[Symphony-x]

So I came up with an idea that each person gives a martial art tip on 1 post, you can do it in as many posts as you want, but just one tiop per post. any maybe make an article out of it when it gets big/good.

i.e.

1. sparring:

when doing a spinning kick of any sorts follow up straight after with another kick as 9 times out of 10, your oppenent will go for an attack straight after a spinning kick.

and then, next persons tip, and so on.

[Eric7_27]

1. Sparring:

Don't do backfists in tournament sparring where face contact is prohibited. (eg., in lower ranking matches) Judges often mistake a hit to the side of the helmet for face contact since your hand is covering view of their face- dispite hitting it or not.

[strangepair03]

1. Sparring:

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER forget to wear your cup..

If you do it once, you will not do it again!!!

[lordtariel]

1. Sparring:

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER forget to wear your cup..

If you do it once, you will not do it again!!!

Especially if they do cup checks with shinai...

[bushido_man96]

1. Practice your forms facing all different directions, including facing the corners of the room. Many times, people will get comfortable with the class surroundings, and then be troubled and confused when at a tournament. Practicing with eyes closed is great, too. (Best if done by yourself, though! )

[gzk]

A newbie tip, but then, I'm a newbie...

Keep your guard up as much as possible while you strike, ie: keep your left hand up when you throw your right. You can ignore this as long as your opponent promises he won't strike back while you are. My instructor compares this to going to battle in an armoured tank, then getting out of the tank to fire your gun.

[lordtariel]

If you're doing balance drills and having too easy of a time of it... try the same drill with your eyes closed.

[mantis.style]

practice sparring with the heaviest gloves you have and for twice as long as your matches are going to be.

[Symphony-x]

always do sparring training for double the ammount of rounds you will be doing

[baronbvp]

Great idea for a thread, Symphony-x!

Know your body and listen to it. It is the machine through which you perform your art/sport. If it needs rest, exercise, healing, water, a mental health day, a vacation, a doctor, stretching, whatever - do it. You need to make your machine last over the long haul. A life in martial arts is an endurance race, not a sprint.