Speed is an important attribute in your techniques. A mechanically correct technique that is
easily blocked is not effective in protecting you. Focusing on and improving your speed should
be part of your practice.
To improve your speed, you must perform the techniques
faster, initiate your techniques faster, and you must decrease your reaction
time.
Below are some exercises and drills you can do without a
partner to improve your speed.
· Just go faster. Practice as many as you can in a set amount
of time or challenge yourself to get a certain number of techniques in a set
amount of time. As you do this, be very
conscious of your mechanics. If your
mechanics start to get too sloppy, then I suggest you stop since this can lead
to ineffective techniques or even injury.
· Focus on the
reciprocal or retraction. Given we
practice and study for self-defense, it is not about just one strike or kick,
so you need to be ready for the next technique.
By breaking it down and focusing on one aspect of the technique, the entire
technique will be faster.
· Initiate the technique
as fast as possible. For example, raise your
knee as fast as possible to initiate your kick, start your cross block for medium
block as fast as possible. Your
techniques are only as fast as the slowest portion of the technique.
· Start from a relaxed
state and explode into the technique
In addition, the shortest time to a target is a straight
line. Therefore, if you work on making
your techniques as linear as possible this will also improve your speed. Linear techniques have other benefits as
well, see the February 2017 blog, Why
Linear? for more information.
Mindset is also important.
Some concepts to incorporate into your practice focusing on mindset
include:
·
If you believe you
will be fast, you will be fast. So,
imagine and believe you are fast.
· When performing
techniques, imagine instantaneously your technique goes from point A to point B.
Flowing more energy and relying less on muscles will also
improve your speed. Your muscles can
slow you down if you are trying too hard to muscle through a technique versus
using energy.
Improving your speed does not happen unless you practice
and focus on it. So, I encourage all of
you to incorporate improving your speed in every practice.
Regards,
Kelly
”The athlete who is building muscles
though weight training should be very sure to work adequately on speed and
flexibility at the same time. In combat, without the prior attributes, a strong
man will be like the bull with its colossal strength futilely pursuing the
matador or like a low-geared truck chasing a rabbit." ~ Bruce Lee, (1940 –1973) American-born
Chinese Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do
