| 1. Good technique. A good understanding and | | | | more familiar you become with any technique, the |
| working knowledge of technique is essential to | | | | more relaxed you tend to become while actually |
| good martial arts performance. It is the bedrock | | | | doing it and thus the faster your execution of the |
| on which all other attributes are built because | | | | technique eventually becomes. You can't force |
| without good technique we are only left with raw, | | | | speed; you can only build it up gradually. Of course |
| unfocused movement and brute force. It is | | | | there are many speed training drills you can do to |
| important that when you first learn technique that | | | | help things along, such as working on focus pads |
| you do so thoroughly and comprehensively, taking | | | | without using any real power or, if you desire |
| in every minor nuance of the movements so the | | | | speedier throws, then use the old judo technique |
| technique can work for you rather than against | | | | of attaching a rope to the wall and practice |
| you. Having a good working knowledge of your | | | | jumping into position as if holding someone's arm. |
| techniques will save you from a lot of problems | | | | There are many more drills and techniques you |
| and frustration further down the line because by | | | | can use to increase your speed (some of which I |
| observing strict form at all times you are giving | | | | will mention in future articles) but in general speed |
| yourself the best possible chance of success. You | | | | takes time to build up. The more you practice |
| can have everything else, but if your technique is | | | | your techniques the faster you will eventually |
| sloppy then it will surely let you down under | | | | become at doing them. |
| pressure when you most need it. | | | | 3. Power. It helps to have power behind your |
| So when learning a new technique, first break it | | | | technique if you are a martial artist. If you are |
| down into stages, know exactly what is involved | | | | lacking in power then your techniques won't be as |
| in the movements and in what way you have to | | | | effective as they should be. Your technique can |
| execute those movements. Be aware of the | | | | be perfect, but it can only take you so far. A |
| body mechanics involved, where your feet should | | | | perfectly executed punch or kick is just that; it |
| be positioned, when to apply force, if at all, and | | | | looks nice but it isn't going to do any real damage. |
| where on your opponent that force or technique | | | | Put some power behind it though and you have |
| should be applied. Start slowly until all the | | | | yourself a punch or kick (or throw) that will inflict |
| movements are firmly embedded in your | | | | real damage on to your opponent. |
| memory before even thinking about adding any | | | | As I've already stated, power comes from |
| kind of speed or power. Do this correctly and you | | | | speed, and like speed it must be allowed to build |
| are giving yourself a solid foundation on which to | | | | up naturally. Trying to force power into a |
| build upon. And remember, technique is everything | | | | technique will only serve to slow it down and rob |
| in the martial arts. | | | | it of any real effectiveness. Forced power results |
| 2. Speed. Speed is the thing you should work on | | | | in tensed muscles and as we know, tense |
| next, not power as a lot of beginners tend to | | | | muscles lead to less speed. Your muscles should |
| focus on initially. Without speed there is no power, | | | | only really tense at the very end of a technique, |
| something people tend to forget when they are | | | | at the point of impact in the case of a strike and |
| trying their best to knock a bag of its bracket or | | | | in the case of throws, just as you pull your |
| knock down an opponent. | | | | opponent off-balance. The rest of the time you |
| In order for speed to happen you must first be | | | | should remain as relaxed as possible. Do this and |
| relaxed. Tense muscles will only slow down your | | | | you will find your ability to generate power will |
| movements. I often see beginners in the martial | | | | come naturally, over time, without you having to |
| arts try to perform techniques with overly tense | | | | do much to encourage it. |
| muscles, unaware of the fact that their actions | | | | As in the case of speed, there are also plenty of |
| are counter-productive to any attempt to inject | | | | training methods to increase your power base, |
| speed into their movements. Effectively, they are | | | | weight training being one of them but in general, |
| slowing themselves down instead of up. | | | | focus on speed first and your power will follow |
| Speed should be allowed to build up naturally. The | | | | suit. |