Speed Punching - Can Games Help?

Speed Punching - Can Games Help?


By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Keith_Pascal]Keith Pascal



In the martial arts, two factors that influence the speed of a punch are the actual speed of the technique and the telegraphs, extra motions, that precede the punch. Can games help you to improve your punching speed? If so, which games and how?



Wax On, Wax Off



Do you remember in the old Karate Kid movies where the master has the student practice repetitive motions to train muscle memory? For example, Daniel has to apply wax to the car one way, and then polish it off another.



Unfortunately, the brain can't often make the connection to use those muscles in a martial-arts scenario. The muscles and the brain need "context."



It's the same with games to improve your punching speed. Sure, you might have to reach quickly to hit the rubber ball in Four Square, or you might have to reach to the side to slap a tethered ball, but these won't necessarily make you a better puncher.



Martial-Arts Games For Different Purposes



One way to make your games transfer to your punches is to isolate martial objective. In other words, practice some games to eliminate your telegraphing, and practice others to improve your punch speed.



For example coin snatching and coin switching wouldn't be very practical to help you speed your punches, if all you did was grab for a coin in someone's outstretched hand before the hand closed.



But if you use the demonstration (really an exercise) to practice eliminating telegraphing, then it's perfect.



Hot Hands by itself won't make you a faster martial artist. But if you could change the game -- slap hands held vertically in front of the body, you'd have a better game. This variation would approximate the path of a punch more accurately.



Martial-Arts Game Combinations



Later, it would be a good idea to combine the two exercises.



Maybe punch for a focus mitt. Your opponent tries to raise or drop the mitt before you can strike. He or she will pay attention to the telegraphs observed in the coin snatching exercise. And you will transfer your speed from Hot Hands to a punch at the target.



If you coordinate your game practice to your speed punching goals, you should be able to turn even the simplest game of tag into a worthwhile training activity.



Careful. No wasting time. Make sure the game is worth the effort.



Keith Pascal is the author of the book, Coin Snatching: The Reputation Builder: [http://www.coinsnatching.com]http://www.CoinSnatching.com.



Pascal is also the editor of several martial arts ezines, including: [http://punchharder.com]Practical Punching. (Free devastating punch ebook when you join.)



Pascal has taught martial arts for over 25 years. He left his job as a high school teacher in 2000, to become a full-time writer.



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