How much Martial ArtsTraining is enough?
At the outset, let me say that for this isn’t intended for those who want to know how long it will take to become a black belt, or a master of whatever art. And the “enough” point is when you can potentially use what you got effectively.
We’re not talking about how long it will take you to be good enough to walk on rice paper without leaving a trail. Or be able to bend re bar with your neck muscles. Those sorts of feats are for the exceptional. With exceptional time available.
I feel the average person has been neglected in these areas, so, we’re talking about the average man or woman. People with many things on their agenda, like a commute, 9-5 job, another commute, school or child pick-up, dinner, family, unwinding, watching the news, reading a book, housework, everyday emergencies.
There was a time I seemingly had 24 hours a day for martial arts practice and training. I was maybe 15 to about 22 years old. Then profession and career started encroaching, romance became an element in my life, upward mobility and advancement concerns factored in, add parenting, and it seemed I had to fight to squeeze in a couple of hours worth of training during a weeknight or on a weekend.
I had some hard earned skills, but without consistent maintenance they weren’t going to be sustained. “Woe is me,” my slow count round to side kick combination isn’t as high as it used to be, or held as long as I liked. This because it can’t be the whole of my focus 24/7. Awwww.
I remembered that Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate has once stated that it was better to train 10 minutes a day everyday, than 8 hours at once, once a week. I loved the “arts” part of the MA’s but Self Defense, for myself but also for may family and their sake was much more relevant.
I started to capture back some sporadic time through out the day. Watching the news for half hour? Stretch! Waiting for the carpool to honk outside? Some light shadowboxing. On the phone a couple of reps of that round to side kick combo. Going out to dinner with friends then a club? Before getting dressed for about 15 minutes some push ups, limbering, and going over a few defenses for a grab or a sucker punch. A little play fight with a friend, loved one, or wrestling with your honey (keep it Loving), can go along way. Bored online? Research an art or an interesting technique.
Come Saturday afternoon at the dojo, and you might not be as behind as others who are spartan training, but just once a week Yes, I lost some physical skills that take a lot of maintenance. But I kept reflexes good. I also discovered my “cold” range. What I could do, effectively, without a 20 minute warm up. THAT’S IMPORTANT!
What’s the highest kick you can do right after breakfast, at the bus stop while wearing fashion jeans and casual shoes? Think about it, and try it out! Ever done sparring without a warm up, against someone who is stretched and warm? I have. Capabilities and limitations are different, movement is different, but, not bad. You learn to compensate. I even started coming in just to do a few rounds of bag work, in civvies, then leave. I learned a lot that way too.
I know what range of motion I have in certain sport coats, overcoats, pants. Heck it’s one of the first things I do when I try on a pair of pants at the store, check the range of motion in them. how much pocket space or waist is there? Sometime I carry (legally) a weapon. If all your clothes are fitted jut to the body, they your weapon is obvious and you are uncomfortable. Yes I do have a few pants a size too big just for those reasons.
I have one teacher who likes to say that if you practice less than 4 hours a day you are a martial hobbyist, not a martial artist. I’m not sure I agree. If you have 4 hours or more a day to devote to one thing, maybe you are a professional something or other? I know a few professional martial artists. They run schools, teach professional fighters, maintain organizations, maintain and advance their own skill sets. That’s all very time consuming. I’d say they are martial arts professionals.
Sculptors, writers, painters, artists in general, don’t treat what they do as a 9-5 job. A writer may write for just 2 hours one day, not the next, and 12 the day after that. But they do it regularly enough, that it is apart of their real life. Not their whole life, but a real part. And, I have also seen martial arts professionals, who can’t maintain the same as some of us, just too busy occupied with the business.
So, How much is enough? As much or as little as YOU can devote on a regular and consistent basis, and in good conscience, while living your life as fully as possible.
GO FOR IT!
