| Q:
I am First Dan in Tae Kwon Do. I am a very busy veterinarian
and I don't have much time to train the way I used to
train. Can you recommend a training program to keep
motivated and in shape, or a book with the same information?
Respectfully yours in the Art, Dave
A:
Dear Dave,
There are a lot of different ways to continue to train
with a busy lifestyle. One of the most important things
is to stay consistent, even if it is doing 50 kicks
each leg before you go to bed. If you stay a small bit
active, then when you do have time to train, it will
not seem as overwhelming. Also, when you do get a chance
to work out, it is important to be productive in the
short time that you have. Remember it is quality and
not quantity. You can get the same workout in half and
hour as you can in an hour if you are specific to what
you are working on.
Q:
Am I too old (24) to begin martial arts and expect anything
more than a rudimentary skill level?
Brandon B.
A:
Hey Brandon,
No age is too old to start. As human beings, we are
very powerful people and who is to say what we can and
cannot do? One of my favorite sayings about people in
general is, "Properly motivated, anyone can do anything."
It is all about what you are willing to work for. And
one of the things you might find during your journey
in martial arts is there may be another path you might
take that you will find equally (if not more) rewarding
than the reason you originally started.
That
is one of the great things about the martial arts: Age
is not a factor if you become a student of the arts
for the full benefits. At our school in Chicago we had
a man test for his black belt at the age of 62. He started
karate six years earlier to get into shape and to have
an outlet from his work, never expecting to do very
much at his age. He was an educated man and always kept
his mind open to everything the martial arts had to
offer. He now has his own martial arts school, and has
touch the lives of many people.
When
my instructor started in 1965 you could not join the
school before the age of 18. At the grand old age of
24, I think if you work hard and keep your mind open
to what the martial arts has to offer, you will have
a great experience.
Q:
In your opinion, what's the most underrated style of
martial arts and why? What's the most overrated? Arnaldo
R.
A:
Dear Arnaldo,
There are so many different styles in this world and
they all have a very practical reasons why they where
developed. Each style also has its own group of enthusiasts.
I do however think that many people underrate Tai Chi,
mainly because it is so hard to understand. To say any
system is overrated would be to belittle the system.
The study of most any martial arts is good for the student
or individual.
Q:
I'm a 47 years old mom and started taking Tae Kwon Do
18 months ago. I am not as fast and flexible as I used
to be. What can I do to better these areas so my forms
and weapons are strong and look good? Thank for your
suggestions.
Cathy C.
A:
Dear Cathy,
Technique is a very large part of speed and flexibility,
and so is muscle control. One way I try to work on my
speed is running my form in full tension, meaning, I
run the form with my whole body working against the
body part that is trying to move. Each move should take
about three to six seconds to complete, and then I will
go back and run the form as relaxed so possible. Since
your body knows how it feels tight, it will start to
learn to relax, and relaxation is a key to speed. Also,
the tension will create muscle memory of good technique.
This is another benefit of tension training. Muscle
control is also the key to flexibility. To prevent injury,
your body will tighten muscles to not let you injury
yourself. Continually going through that range of motion
will help give you the muscle control needed to continue
to go further.
Q:
Dear Matt, I have been studying Kempo-Jujitsu for three
years now. I am a first-degree brown belt. I just watched
the show, you're awesome! I wish I could move like you!
I have a few questions for you. First of all, what made
you interested in martial arts? Have you ever had to
use martial arts in real life? And what kinds of training
do you go through each week to keep fit (how many days/hours)?
I hope you can answer my questions and good luck!
Your fan, K.C.
A:
Hi K.C.!
I'm glad you liked the show. I was always wanted to
start in the martial arts, ever since I was very little.
I think it had something to do with The Karate Kid
or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I remember before
joining I would always rent karate books from the library
and just look at them. Before I started martial arts,
I was constantly getting into confrontations. But when
I started training, I never got into another fight.
The reason is that I learned about self-confidence and
soon it did not matter what people my age would say
to me or about me. I started to understand who I was.
I still train all of the time. One of my biggest motivations
is to keep learning and improving and that is a journey
that I don't think will ever end.
Q:
Matt:
I have a few questions for you that would help me (and
possibly others) improve our art:
1. What are your thoughts on the psychological aspects
of "street" self defense? Specifically, how would one
overcome fear when faced with an apparently physically
superior or bigger opponent? 2. Are non-martial
arts skills, like gymnastics, important to your training?
3. Is there a fighting art you would suggest for me
to concentrate on? I am 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, and fairly
flexible, but lack significant upper-body strength and
have weak (not bad) knees. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Joe B.
A:
Hey Joe,
The psychological aspect of street self-defense is something
that is hard to teach when you are training. In any
situation you will never feel as threatened and as vulnerable
as you would in a live situation. That is where training
comes into play. There are always people who are bigger
and stronger; you need to be confident that your training
will put you in a better situation then if you have
not trained. I always recommend cross training. Giving
your body different forms of stimulation will always
be helpful, but if you want to get better at kicking,
the best way to do that is kick. If you want to jump
higher, you jump, and so on. Learning a fighting art
is no different then learning anything else. The question
is: What inspires you to train? Go in and try different
classes in different gyms and see what you like. Good
luck!
Q:
Matt,
I was particularly interested watching you try the "monkey
poles". Did you try them long enough to see any improvements
with your balance and coordination? Also, what is your
overall opinion of the "monkey poles" as part of a martial
arts training regimen? Thanks in advance for your answers.
Mike J.
A:
Hey Mike,
I did not have too much of a chance to train on the
monkey poles. I think any type of balance training is
a good thing to work on. If you place yourself in an
unstable environment while you are training, different
muscles will have to work harder to stabilize you. Then
when you return to a stable environment you will have
better recruitment of muscles to support your movement.
Q:
I would like to know how one can tell if a martial arts
dojo is good or not? Sincerely yours, Steve
A:
Hey Steve,
Finding a school that is good for you can be a task.
Check out many schools and compare them. Take the classes,
watch the classes and ask around your area for opinion
of other people. Listen to the goals of the school.
Sign up for the least amount of time to start out with
to give yourself a chance to evaluate the school and
its workings. If a school is more worried about you
getting a belt then learning, then it may be time to
look for another school. The importance should be on
learning and not testing.
Q:
I am an Orange belt in Kenpo Karate and love the art.
I have competed in a few tournaments and do very well
in self-defense, usually placing at least second. However
when it comes to sparring, I tend to freeze up and don't
do well. Do you have any suggestions on training or
disciplines that I can try to do better?
Respectfully, Sean
A:
Dear Sean,
When you are sparring, relaxation is one of the most
important things. One of the best ways to relax is remember:
This tournament thing should be fun, it is not life
and death, enjoy yourself! And the other best way to
learn to relax? Keep it up! The more you train and experience
competition, the more relaxed you will be.
Q:
Learning katas is very hard for me. I find myself taking
way too long to get each form down. Do you have any
advice as to how I should go about memorizing these
steps?
A:
Forms (kata) are a series of self-defense moves put
into a geometrical pattern for the purpose of practice.
If you keep this in mind as you practice each segment
of the form you will remember the form faster and more
complete. Practice segments and not individual moves.
Try to visualize an opponent as you go through the moves.
Q:
Matt!
Do you think it is necessary to tournament compete in
order to improve as a martial artist?
Eric P., Duluth, Minnesota
A:
I definitely think there are benefits to tournament
competition learning how to be a good winner and loser
is one. For me it became a big motivating factor in
my training, but it is not for everyone. I know many
people who don't like it.
Q:
Hey Matt,
You spoke of the 2- to 3-hour physical workouts whenever
possible. My question is: How much time do you find
that you devote to the mental aspect, such as meditation?
Thanks in advance.
Dale
A:
Mental training is something that never stops. Your
physical workout can only go for so long, but the mental
training, in all essence, could go forever. I do my
mental training at the start and at the end of my day.
In the morning I brief myself on how I want things to
go and at night I debrief myself to help me relax. I'm
always very visual in all of my physical training too.
I don't just throw a move, I'm always trying to focus
on it.
Q:
Matt, Hello. I have been studying Tai Chi for almost
two years. I get strange responses when I tell people
I take Tai Chi, because everyone thinks it's so slow.
Over the past year and a half, I've been strengthened
in so many ways. I'm stronger, more flexible, and I
can focus my mind onto a single point for small amounts
of time, yet most of my experiences have shown me that
this is all it takes... a small amount of time. I hit
hard and listen. I respect my Sifu, he respects me,
yet we do not speak often. Here's my problem: I'm a
teen and my parents are divorcing. Everything I encounter
seems to be trying to prevent me from focusing on my
goal of being a great martial artist. My question is,
how do I "block out" some of this stuff?
Sincerely, C.
A:
As you know through your study, Tai Chi is an internal
art (which makes it hard for others to understand unless
they study). The internal part of Tai Chi is where you
want to go when you feel things are pulling you away.
The study of Tai Chi, as with other martial arts, is
a life's experience. Use those distractions as part
of your study and make it a lesson for yourself. One
thing my instructor used to tell me, which you can do,
is to put a pebble in your pocket. The pebble will represent
your goals. When you get distracted, reach in your pocket
and hold the pebble to remind you of your goals. Take
your martial arts seriously, even if others don't. Work
hard and hold on to your pebble.
Q:
I am 24, weigh 285 lbs, and I am under chiropractic
care for two dislocated spinal discs. I have always
wanted to learn some form of martial arts. How long
will it take for me to become even slightly proficient
in some form of martial arts? What advice can you give
me as a beginner who is a believer? Congratulations
on all of your achievements throughout life, it is people
like you who inspire people like me!
Best Regards, Luis
A:
Thanks Luis!
Everyone is different so it is hard to estimate proficiency.
You will become more proficient in every class you take,
though, so if you have taken one class, then you are
on your way. My advice for a beginner is not to get
frustrated or overwhelmed about how much you have to
do or learn. Enjoy the process of training, because
that is where all of your greatest memories and experiences
will be, not in the prize, but in the experience. Go
get 'em!
Q:
Hello Matt!
I really enjoyed the documentary! You really are someone
to aspire to. My question is related to something said
on the documentary that confused me. The narrator stated
that the ultimate goal of the competitors was to be
able to fight. In the training I've had in Shotokan
karate I was always taught that that the ultimate goal
was self-defense and control. I was wondering what you
thought about this statement. I realize that self-defense
is a form of fighting, but I think that most people
watching the program may have gotten the wrong message
from this statement. What is your take on this, and
what would you state as the ultimate goal using your
knowledge of the martial arts?
Thanks so much, and good luck with your acting career.
Paula
A:
Great observation, Paula,
In the documentary, I believe that they where referring
to the fact that forms were supposed to be a simulated
fight and that in the fighting section of the tournament
they wanted to show that everything we learned could
be applied to real situations like fighting. I think
one of my main goals in the martial arts is to be able
to help other people receive the same benefits of martial
arts that I did. It helped me through a very hard time
in my life and I know it can help a lot of different
people if they see what it can do. |
