| Almost daily, students ask me for suggestions in | | | | I can isolate that string and just play that part. By |
| developing better techniques in their martial arts training. | | | | practicing just this piece over and over until I gain |
| To which I reply, "fix your balance and you will have | | | | proficiency with it, I do 2 things: |
| better control, speed, and power. | | | | 1) I fix that part of this particular song, and... |
| And, while it's easy to quickly demonstrate something | | | | 2) I fix and strengthen every other song that I'll ever |
| for a student in the dojo, conveying some of these | | | | play that has the same note combination. |
| ideas to a student who contacts me through email, | | | | So... the drill with the note combination is not about |
| especially if he or she is new to martial arts training, or | | | | playing a song. But, it has everything to do with how |
| their teacher does not incorporate these ideas into | | | | well I play songs on my particular instrument. |
| class - can be a bit more challenging. | | | | Do you understand? |
| One of the tools that I use to enhance and strengthen | | | | In the case of developing better balance for our martial |
| my own students' abilities, is what I call the "drill." These | | | | arts/self defense training, I could do several types of |
| drills, or "skill development exercises," are a way to | | | | drills or exercises to strengthen my balance. And |
| isolate a particular ability and, "drill" it again and again | | | | remember, balance is about physically aligning the parts |
| until the desired results are attained. Drills can be used | | | | of the body, relative to each other and the body's own |
| to improve things like: | | | | center - with the effects of gravity. |
| - Balance | | | | Here are a few ideas for practicing and developing |
| - Speed | | | | better balance: |
| - Timing | | | | 1) Stand on one leg (if your system has a single-legged |
| - Reaction | | | | stance or posture like the Ninja's Hicho no Kamae, use |
| - Strategic thinking under pressure | | | | this). Take up and relax into this position so that you |
| - Decision-making (choosing the right skill or technique | | | | can do it for longer and longer periods without |
| to do next) | | | | wavering or falling off of your base foot. |
| - etc. In the case of this article, I'll be talking about ways | | | | 2) Do the above exercise and SLOWLY extend your |
| to improve balance. But, you can feel free to substitute | | | | raised leg as if kicking, and return the leg to it's resting |
| any other quality or ability. You will just have to come | | | | position without falling off the base leg. You can also |
| up with a drill or exercise where that quality is the | | | | practice turning your torso with the leg extended, or |
| primary skill needed to perform the exercise. | | | | extend the leg out in different directions. |
| But, for now, it's about balance. Because, balance or, | | | | 3) Do head and hand-stands. (This puts your body in |
| more more correctly, "balance control," is the one skill | | | | an inverted position relative to gravity and re-awakens |
| or ability that most human beings lack. And, for the | | | | your brain's awareness about the effects of gravity |
| martial artist focused on real-world self-protection, | | | | and the body's alignment - something it had to do |
| you're betting your life on what you can and cannot do | | | | when you were learning to stand and walk as a baby. |
| in this area! | | | | Then, you can be more aware of this when you are |
| While anything can be "used" for balance training - | | | | standing normally. Remember - Balance is about |
| what most people think of as martial arts training can | | | | "alignment" of body parts to center AND the effects |
| be described as a technique or kata. I cannot speak | | | | of gravity! |
| for any particular school or "style," and what they do | | | | 4) Practice your rolling or other breakfalls as SLOWLY |
| or don't do to help you to attain mastery. However, | | | | as possible. Rolling is an exercise in "balance-control" - |
| from my experience, research, and observation, most | | | | not agility. You will be more capable of not only faster |
| students are limited to step-by-step "technique" | | | | rolls when you find the balance line that your body is |
| instruction, and the mock-fighting practice known | | | | supposed to be on, but you will also be able to change |
| generally as "sparring." | | | | speeds and directions - in the middle of a roll - when |
| Regardless of the martial art, one way to look at a drill | | | | you can do this. |
| is an exercise that is NOT a self defense technique - | | | | 5) Use aids like balance-beams (both horizontal and on |
| but has everything to do with self defense. What I | | | | rising and declining angles), K-Boards (boards with a |
| mean is that, it can be a single "piece" from a | | | | fixed or moving fulcrum underneath that you will stand |
| technique, or a completely different exercise that is | | | | on and practice holding and shifting your weight so that |
| "drilled" or practiced again and again to gain proficiency. | | | | the edges of the board do not touch the floor), etc. |
| An example of this can be seen from the world of | | | | As you can see, the above suggestions are not self |
| music. Perhaps I play an instrument. And when working | | | | defense techniques. But, like the analogy that I gave |
| on playing a particular song, there is a note combination | | | | about music, they have EVERYTHING to do with how |
| that I'm having trouble with. | | | | effective and how much power you'll be able to |
| Instead of continuing to rehearse the entire song, | | | | generate with your body as you move THROUGH |
| "hoping" that I'll get the move/notes correct "this" time - | | | | your techniques - ANY techniques. |