Basic Training tips

Basic training tips. Basics techniques and stances are the foundation that we
build on as martial artists. Without good, solid basics one can never become
an advanced fighter and this is why the basics must be drilled over and over
again. Sometimes though, we tend to concentrate on advanced techniques and
combinations and the basics often get neglected. When this happens, bad
habits develop and we get sloppy. Below are a few methods for training to
help you to tighten up and polish your basic techniques. Slow down. This is
the first thing to do. Slow right down so that you are almost performing the
technique in slow motion. Tai Chi forms are performed in this way and for
good reason. When we perform each technique in slow motion, we are
concentrating on performing “perfect technique” we are hard wiring
perfection into our muscle memory. It is easy to focus on keeping your hands
up in a good guard, when you throw punches and strikes slowly, but when you
train at full pelt all the time, you may find your guard dropping, as all you
are focused on is delivering the punch. Train in front of a mirror. The
mirror will tell you exactly where you are going wrong. It is one of the best
training tool one can have. Concentrate on your technique. When you train on
your own, think about the technique and focus on it 100% Ask yourself what
you are trying to achieve, which target you are aiming for, what possible
counter moves your opponent could use. Think about variations on the drill
which may negate any possible counters. Think about you stance, your
footwork, your guard and which areas of your body are exposed and open to
attack when you perform the technique. If you are not mindful of your stance
when you are training punches, your stance will trip you up in combat. Teach
the technique to less experienced martial artists. When asked to teach
beginners, don't feel it's a chore, or that you are wasting time that you
could spend drilling more interesting, advanced stuff. We learn from those we
teach. When we explain drills to the less experienced, we examine the
techniques in a more in depth way. We build our own understanding of the
drill, how and why it works, we concentrate more on OUR form when we teach
others. Visualise. Whether you are training with a bag or in the air on your
own, Visualise the opponent. When you are working the bag, imagine it has
arms and “see” it thowing strikes your way. If you “see” the opponent
throwing punches or kicks in your mind, and you counterstrike, it helps to
hardwire the response into your muscle memory reflex actions. Drill it. Drill
the technique until you can perform it perfectly every single time. Remember,
It is wiser to fear an opponent who has trained one kick 1000 times, than a
man who has trained one thousand different techniques once. Good luck with
your training. About the author. I started learning Martial Arts when I was
inspired by Bruce Lee and the Kung Fu TV series with the late David Carradine
as a kid. At the age of six I began learning Judo, at seventeen I switched to
Shotokan Karate. Following thereafter I studied Shu Ku Kai Karate, Tai Chi
Chaun, Lotar, (Krav Maga) Kickboxing and Taekwondo under the late Master Kul
Suk Chang, coach of the Australian Taekwondo Team for the Olympic Games. For
a while I practiced Taekwondo, Close Quarters Combat and ZDK consecutively. I
believe that Zen Do Ka is the best as it is not restricted in its outlook or
it's techniques. In 2005 I won two silver medals in the Victorian Taekwondo
Championship Tournament in different divisions. In 2007 I took part in the
Close Quarters Combat Instructors Course. In 2008 I was awarded the Zen Do
Kai Bushido Cross and Shodan Ho Grade. In 2009 I was certified by the
Singapore Sports Council in the National Coaches Accreditation Program. in
2009 I combined all of my training in the various Martial Arts and
established Zen Do Ka Karate & Kickboxing, Mixed martial Arts. Singapore. Zen
Do Ka is an evolution of traditional karate style Goju Ryu and Australian Zen
Do Kai, Zendoka Singapore is very different to the Australian Style, though
we honour our heritage by using a similar name. The Japanese word Zen means
"meditation" Do means path, Ka is the spirit on the path. A Zendoka is a
spirit on the path of enlightenment. Many travel, some finish. The question
is "does such destination exist, or is the path the destination?" In 2010 I
was graded 1st Dan, Freestyle Karate and 2nd Dan Kickboxing and awarded the
Elite Merit Certificate for contributions to Martial Arts by Elite Freestyle
Karate & Kickboxing International, EFKKI. In 2010 I was appointed by The
World Karate & Kickboxing Council, (WKC) as President for Singapore. Peter A.
Robertson Founder Zendoka Elite Freestyle Karate & Kickboxing Singapore Elite
Freestyle Karate & Kickboxing International Rep President for Singapore, The
World Karate & Kickboxing Council zendoka@y7mail.com phone 9681 1927 Zen Do
Ka Official Website http://zendokai-karate-kickboxing.com World Karate &
Kickboxing Council Singapore Website
http://worldkickboxingcouncil-singapore.webs.com/