The best way to get better at martial arts is by consistent practice of your skills and taking martial arts classes regularly. At the same time, however, there are elements of your martial arts practice that you can train from home. One of these elements is your fitness.
Here are some ways that you can improve your martial arts fitness from home or when you’re not able to make it in for your regular classes:
1. Endurance
Some of the most accessible activities you can do from home also improve your endurance. Putting on a pair of running shoes or heading out for a bike ride are both great options to build up your aerobic endurance. If you have access to a pool, swimming is another aerobic activity that’s also low-impact that will improve your endurance.
2. Strength
To build strength, you don’t need to have special pieces of equipment. You can get in an effective total-body strength workout from home using your body weight or simple pieces of equipment (like a set of dumbbells, a kettlebell, or a medicine ball). Exercises like pushups, situps, squats, and lunges can help you build or maintain strength for martial arts.
3. Flexibility and Balance
Training at home is an excellent opportunity to focus on increasing your flexibility and balance. One way to target both of these areas is through yoga. There are a variety of online yoga classes, and if you’re still relatively new to yoga, then look for a class that’s beginner-friendly or that moves at a slower pace. Save the vinyasa, faster flowing classes for a later date.
4. Agility and Speed
A lot of the skills and drills you practice in a martial arts studio can be practiced at home, as well. Make sure you’re well warmed up before training speed and agility. A few sets of short sprints in your backyard, including directional changes, are one way to target both speed and agility. When you add this to your training routine, start with just a few sets and build from there.
Source: Karate Families
