| If you're in a training rut, or just want a nice | | | | wouldn't learn otherwise, and will wake up your |
| change of pace, here's a tip that can make a | | | | senses. It will also toughen your body and prepare |
| huge difference in your training experience: train | | | | you to move in a way that anticipate an |
| outside. | | | | incosistent surface. After all, if you were jogging |
| When I was in China for the 1st World Tai Chi | | | | on iced over cement (not recommended - just an |
| Conference, that's the only place I saw people | | | | example!) you'd certainly place your feet |
| training. It didn't matter if it was office workers | | | | differently that if you were running on a college |
| doing Tai Chi in the park before work, or teens | | | | running track. By the same token, try sparring on |
| doing Kung Fu (by the hundreds, in unison) in the | | | | grass in tennis shoes, after years of only sparring |
| afternoon heat on hard packed dirt. | | | | on a matted floor in barefeet. |
| And don't just train in your back yard on a sunny | | | | If you don't have a partner, do form, shadow |
| day. Train in a park. Train on cement. Train when | | | | boxing, kick/punch drills, and yoga. If you've got a |
| it's raining. Train at night. Train at night in the rain. | | | | partner do all that and some controlled sparring. |
| Train in the snow. Train at night in the snow . . . | | | | Just remember to try a different venue from |
| you get the idea. | | | | time to time. |
| Changing up your routine to include different | | | | Have fun. |
| times, places, and weather conditions will get you | | | | Train like you mean it. |
| out of a rut fast, will teach you some things you | | | | |