Chuck Norris knows a little something about karate. In his book "The Secret Power Within," he describes martial arts skill as a wheel with spokes. Each spoke represents a different aspect of martial arts training, such as endurance, knowledge of material, physical strength and mental toughness. One important spoke in Chuck Norris' wheel is speed and agility.
Benefits
In a karate sparring match, the quicker fighter gets hit less often and hits his opponent more often. Agility--motor control--allows his strikes to hit their targets with greater precision. If a karate practitioner gets involved in a self-defense situation, speed and agility provide the same benefits, and make it easier for him to escape the situation entirely.
Relaxation
Relaxed muscles respond more quickly and move faster, says Oregon-based karate instructor David Coffman. A relaxed fighter is a quicker and more agile fighter. Coffman admits that it's difficult to relax when involved in a sparring match or street fight. However, practicing karate will help that relaxation come with time. Coffman further warns that relaxing means relaxing, not getting tense about whether or not you are relaxed.
Moving First
Seventh degree black belt Milt Guinette explains moving first with a story problem reminiscent of the SATs. "John and Mike must go ten miles from point A to point B. John leaves at 1:00 and runs at 20 miles per hour. Mike leaves at noon the day before. How fast must Mike run to beat John to point B?" An important part of speed is simply moving first. Karate students practice many techniques that speed movement and reaction time, in order to begin moving soon enough to be effective. One example is learning to use the peripheral vision to note small indicators that an opponent is about to move.
Combinations and Techniques
Karate curricula often include self-defense combinations, sometimes called techniques. These are a prescribed, step-by-step response to an attack. In kenpo karate, for example, the technique "Delayed Sword" responds to a punch by blocking the punch, kicking the groin, and chopping the neck as the attacker bends over. Drilling and memorizing techniques means a karate student doesn't need to think about responses during a confrontation.
Physical Conditioning
Black belt and fitness coach Ben Cohn notes that strong, flexible muscles are faster and more agile than weak or tight muscles. Karate training includes conditioning drills and stretching that improve both strength and flexibility. These include classic stretches and calisthenics, pliometrics, isometrics and poses similar to those found in yoga.
References
- "The Secret Power Within"; Chuck Norris; 1996
- David Coffman; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, OR
- Milt Guinette; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, OR
- Ben Cohn; Black Belt Fitness Coach; Beaverton, OR
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