Many of life’s challenges require a strong mind. The mind allows you to deal with problems by solving them the best it can. The mind just like the body can be trained. A well trained mind will work under pressure more efficiently and effectively and make easier work of whatever it is applied to.

Fighting is no different; a strong mind allows you to push yourself in training where you develop not only physical attributes but significantly mental attributes concurrently. The skills and techniques coached and drilled are “learnt” and then stored in memory, after this it is the minds job to remember them and apply them. The body is trained merely to physically execute the technique but it is the mind that has the ability to think under pressure, to keep the body working when fatigued and to see the right opportunity and send the signals to the body to react.

The mind aids the tuning of the body in training allowing you to get the very best from every session, and this is basis for improving the body. The body is amazing at adapting as it becomes stronger and fitter the more it is pushed and stressed. To progressively stress the body requires what the BSK refers to as the 3 “D’s” - discipline, dedication and determination, which are all “strengths of mind”.

Being a good kickboxer requires true self belief, an inner confidence which comes from self realisation that one is in control of their mind, and this of course takes practice to really believe it. Thinking positively but realistically is imperative, as is setting personal short term, medium term and long term goals. Setting some smaller realistic challenges can be used as a measure of progression and attaining these goals will help build self confidence, and from self confidence will be further motivation to apply the mind and be aware of its power.

A desire to continually improve and progress is important in any area of life.  Knowing your personal strengths and weaknesses is key to viable progression and improving yourself is down to the commitment and application of your mind in reaching the goals you have set yourself.

The mind is so powerful and it is by far the strongest tool you have.  It can be used as a tool for you, making you the winner, and it can work against you, making you the loser.
Don’t leave your mind behind in your personal development and choose to be a winner in life.

Practising kickboxing requires a certain level of fitness.  This may pose no problem for young and active students, but older novices should start gradually increasing the pace of training as your fitness develops.  Your body’s level of fitness varies accordingly to the demands put on it.

Kickboxing works different and unusual muscle groups and until your body adapts you will inevitably have sore and stiff muscles.  You may still be a little stiff at the next session, but within a few minutes muscle aches will ease as fatigue products are washed out by the increased blood supply resulting from exercise.

Suppose you are not fit when you begin training, most martial art practice takes place in mixed ability classes so the pace of training is pitched for the majority of students.   As a new student you may find yourself pushed beyond your ability to keep up with the rest of the class, but with a bit of concentration and determination you will succeed and become an accomplished martial artist. Try and remember it’s about how much you put in…put little effort in & you will get little in return, by putting 100% in you will reap the benefits much quicker.

Flexibility

Flexibility is range of joint movement and muscle elasticity.  Without it the kickboxer will not obtain the maximum muscle efficiency or achieve the desired height with kicks. Quite simply, your body will be competing against itself. Some kickboxers come from other martial arts backgrounds and will be familiar with stretching exercises, so for them what follows may not be new, but that does not in any way diminish its importance. Flexibility exercises or stretching should be performed daily, before and after training. Before commencing flexibility exercises you must warm the body thoroughly. Running on the spot, skipping, and aerobic routines for 5 – 10 minutes will bring up the body temperature thus causing the blood vessels to expand and pump warming blood through the muscles. Never stretch cold muscles.
Flexibility at the joints, especially of the hips and spine, is a limiting factor.  Here, unfortunately, martial art training is not very helpful to the novice with poor hips and hip joints, such as the older more fragile student.  It will take a great deal of time to improve unless he/she obtains an additional flexibility programme (from instructor) either at home or elsewhere in their own time.