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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. |
