Can cross training
improve your martial arts? Yes.
Will cross-training
improve your martial arts. It depends.
What do I mean by this?
If you are practicing
or participating in other activities and have identified the goal on how it
will improve your martial arts and practice with those items in mind so it
becomes natural, then yes, it can improve your martial arts. If you are just participating to participate,
then it probably will not and in fact may actually hold you back in your
martial arts.
Let’s look at a couple
of examples.
Running
Running can help
improve your cardiovascular endurance and build leg strength, so in theory it
can help you in your martial arts. But
will it? If you are focused on
controlling your breathing, explosive sprints, remaining grounded, run from
your center, staying focused on the running and being present, then it can help
in your martial arts. If you are just
out for a leisurely jog and not focused on your breathing, being grounded,
etc., then it will not and in fact may hold you back in your martial arts.
Yoga
Yoga can help improve
your breathing, balance, flexibility, and muscular strength, so in theory it
can help you in your martial arts. But
will it? If you control your breathing
even when a pose becomes straining, remain focused on the present moment in
every pose, remain grounded and work from your center in every pose, challenge
yourself to try new poses even if you think they may be difficult or you cannot
them do at first, then it can help in your martial arts. In addition, if you let you mind wander,
release the pose when it starts getting tough, disconnect from your breathing
or center throughout the pose, then it will not help and in fact may hold you
back in your martial arts.
Motorcycle Racing
Motorcycle racing can
help with your mental focus, breathing, using your entire body as one, staying
in the game and never giving up (even if you are at the back of the pack),
checking your ego at the door, and providing you with a real understanding of
your skill. But will it? If you control your breathing even when
adrenaline is high, remain focused on the present moment for the entire race,
are one with the motorcycle and use your entire body as one, ensure stay in
tune with your abilities and do not over exaggerate what you are capable of
while keeping a positive mindset, then it can help in your martial arts. If you do not control your breathing, if you overexaggerate
your skill (which in a motorcycle race, can mean severe injury or death), if
you do not stay in the race until it is over and give up before the finish
line, then it will not help and in fact may hold you back in your martial arts.
Martial arts are not
just a practice but a way of life, so if you participate in other activities
and incorporate the fundamentals of martial arts, then it can help your martial
arts practice. The more you do in your
life where you breathe evenly, have body awareness, are grounded, focused on the
present moment, the more these principles will be part of everything you
do. And once that occurs, you are no
longer practicing a martial art but have become a martial artist.
Regards,
Kelly
"The
true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will
be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful
in all things." ~ Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584 –1645) - famous Japanese
swordsman, the author of The Book of Five Rings
