In addition to strength training, I’ve been exploring various styles of martial arts as a way to improve balance, coordination, and preconception. I’ve focused primarily on cognitive skills over the years, and it’s time to invest in developing motor skills.
Martial arts happen to be a time-tested and practical way of training these skills, which is why I decided to invest some time researching them.
Rinkiohen (“Adaptation To Circumstances”)
Instead, I’m exploring two different balance and movement-oriented arts, both of which are fascinating:
Aikido - a modern Japanese martial art derived from traditional samurai training, which emphasizes precise movement, balance, and body control. Safe training also requires advanced skills in falling, rolling, and sensing changes in force and momentum. The primary techniques are defensive, with a focus on resolving attacks without injury to either party. Sometimes includes training in traditional weapons like bokken(wooden sword) and jo (short staff). Training takes place in a group setting via cooperative partner practice, not via competition. Bagua Zhang - the most recent of the traditional styles of internal Chinese martial arts. The primary training method is very unique: think Tai Chi without set forms, at a medium pace, with a lot of spiraling of legs/arms/torso, while walking in a circle. Strikes are intended to transfer momentum (impulse) vs. maximizing power. Training takes place primarily solo, via “circle walking” and “palm changes” that reverse the direction of the circle walk.
I’m an absolute beginner in both, and I have a long, long way to go before I’ll be considered “good” at either of them. That’s okay: the value is in the practice itself, the people I meet in learning them, and the skills I pick up along the way.
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