The challenge is NOT just about how to punch and kick faster. Instead, we need to find out ‘WHAT SPEED really means’ to a fighter.
Having “Movement speed” is one of the many attributes needed to be a good fighter. Furthermore, I would like to define speed as “effective speed” of which “movement speed” is only part of the whole picture. For example, the 100 meter dash is more than running speed, it is actually time between the gun is fired till you pass the finish line. Therefore, your ability to respond / anticipate the gun and how you thrust yourself pass the finish line can make a difference especially when you are talking about split of a second. To peak at the world record is not something that can be pulled out of a hat anytime. Prior to the event, the athletes stretch, warm up, keep themselves hydrated and work mentally prior to going into the event. To win a race, your training and preparation needs to cover more than just running (which is simply movement speed).
Combat involves at least two persons. Therefore speed involves more than just punching / kicking – things like reaction time do matter. If you cannot see or feel the escalating / immediate danger and respond accordingly, you will go down regardless of how fast you can punch. The need to defend yourself comes when you least expect it and you simply do not have time to do any warm up. While it is great to possess maximum punching or kicking speed in training, it is even more important to be able to deliver ‘effective speed’ in less than fully prepared conditions.
Assuming your primary focus to learn martial arts is for self defense, besides practicing punching and kicking, your training must cover the following areas:
- enhance self Sensory
- enhance self Decision
- enhance self Action
- enhance self Adaptive
- limit / delay opponent Sensory
- limit / delay opponent Decision
- limit / delay opponent Action
- limit / delay opponent Adaptation
Exercise:
- Give at least one example of how you see one of the above bullets works.
- Did this article extend how you think about speed at all?
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