Incorrect stretching

I have seen a lot of martial artists who stretch incorrectly, many instructors stretch the way they were taught. Many have not added to or changed the ways - ever! My new book is based on science, professional training and experience. The book includes ballet bar stretches, floor stretching, partner stretches, overall body warmups, ballistic stretches and kicking chamber drill. Learn how to vary your routine and what exercises can be grouped together. Set for release the 1st of March 2010. http://www.martymartinkarate.com

Black belts for black belts sake...

Rewarding normal behavior is wrong encouraging them to keep it up is right. I use to belong to a professional martial arts billing company. The owner/director use to send out emails stating that if your school wasn’t promoting people to Black Belt every month then you were not a Black Belt school. This is an example of why I think rewarding normal behavior is wrong. You should not, I don’t, reward someone for only completing regular tasks. Being able to punch does not a Black Belt make, being able to kick does not a Black belt make, going through the motions of a kata does not a Black belt make, you get the idea. It’s the heart you put into what you do, it’s being consistent in what you do, and it’s how effective you can become with that punch, kick, form, fight or challenge. It’s the intensity, the smoothness, the power. It’s not complaining at the menial tasks. Here is the thing, when you do a good job on the little things the big things will come. Rewards are in order for the big things you accomplish above and beyond not the regular things you should be doing from day to day.

Bronze Respect

Saturday night I got the time to watch some of the winter Olympics, I got hooked on watching Apolo Ohno going for his seventh gold in the 1000m short track speed skating. Recognized as a great athlete – I was most impressed with his interview after the final where he got the bronze. When ask how he felt – his response “I did my best”. I wish I could have a tape to play to all the kids out there who think that if they don’t place number one or get the gold they are failures. Some even quit and look for something else they think they might win at only to go in a circle never finding the magic. Don’t get me wrong the object is to win HOWEVER doing your best and being consistent will bring you more wins more successes and certainly more happiness. Low and behold here comes Shani Davis, he too got the silver in the 1500m speed skating and what did he say in his interview? “I did my best”.

Pride vs standards...

Have some pride; I know how hard it is to live without a lot of money. YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT if you compromise your standards for the sake of money.

Sport Karate Training Stretching Manual

Want more flexibility, need ways to vary your stretching routine, looking for ways to make your stretch last longer? Just for martial artist and instructors, my new "Stretching Manual" is set for release March 1st! Manual includes areas that include ballet style stretches, line drills, partner stretching, chamber development and more. Discover how I use these drills to strengthen and stretch. E-book for immediate download at http://www.martymartinkarate.com

Practice - practice -practice

Don’t think because you did something once you’re an expert at it – this is a big problem with many programs today. It takes practice, experience and repetition. Sometimes it’s boring however that push through the boring repetition builds character. When you have that life’s experience then you will have a different outlook on the product, the result and person who does it too.

Experts will tell you it takes at least 300 to 500 repetitions to develop a task in your muscle memory.

Train the way you want to fight

Train the way you fight. Some martial artist just practice forms and think they can fight. Their outcome will not be the “Karate Kid”. You have to train like you fight and then fight like you train. It’s an historical fact proven throughout mankind’s history.

Stretching Book for martail arts

My new book on "Stretching” for martial artists is set for official release in March 2010. The book covers specific stretching routines for different days and combinations to improve your flexibility. The book also outlines suggested training routines and how you can make them a part of your personal training routine. The book will be available as a e-book download for immediate delivery at http://www.martymartinkarate.com

Proper breathing matches proper movement

How to breath when exercising – don’t laugh, I can hear it when someone lets out a big breath just after they finish a move. That really means they were holding their breath when they were performing. This is a big no-no! You decrease your performance level, burn up energy that you could have used other wise and guaranteed a decrease in effectiveness. There are four basic breathing patterns I teach and each one corresponds to the type of move you are performing. Long moves – deep long controlled exhale, explosive moves – quick explosive exhale, sequenced quick moves – ¾ breath; exhale ¾ of your air just before the sequence of quick moves then explode through each move when done breath in, short moves – sharp exhale