Fitness For Martial Arts
In the world of martial arts there are hundreds of styles to choose from. Some are fast and powerful like the Shaolin kung fu styles or full-contact karate. Others - from an observer's perspective - are more slow and graceful, for example tai chi or capoeira. The training that goes into all martial arts though can be gruelling, and first impressions can be deceiving. So if you decide to learn a martial art, get your mind prepared for a gruelling fitness regime, especially if you want to learn it for real self-defense or for competitions.
The usual public understanding of tai chi is that it is all about very slow movements; something for health rather than fighting; something gentle rather than powerful. It is important to remember that whichever martial art you learn, you start with basic techniques, and then progress to the advanced syllabus. The tai chi slow form is a beginner's form that is practised for years until perfected. It trains correct body alignment, so that maximum power can be delivered to an opponent without unbalancing the fighter. Many people would be fairly surprised to discover that tai chi has fast forms, weapons forms, two-person forms, and full-contact sparring - with headguards, boxing gloves and gumshields!
To assist with fitness for martial arts - either tai chi or any of the more obvious styles - think about cardio training. Running and cycling are both great for improving fitness. For power training in a gym, get the gloves on and hit the heavy punch bag. Make sure you move around and stay light on your feet. For reaction training, it's also good to train with a punch ball that has ceiling and floor attachments, which rebounds back at you.
The final test of both your fitness and your techniques comes in the form of one-to-one sparring. So get padded up, get a partner and get started!