| Core fitness and martial arts just go together | | | | right hook are motions that are generated in your |
| very well. Besides training on self-defense, | | | | hips. Your trunk, arms, and hands just serve to |
| self-defense is all about total body conditioning. | | | | transmit the motion. So, as you get better at |
| That's actually the benefit most of us get from | | | | martial arts, your core gets stronger. But more |
| combat arts, fitness at a level you've never | | | | importantly, it works in the reverse. |
| experienced before. But what does this have to | | | | You can greatly improve your martial arts |
| do with core fitness. First off, let's explore the | | | | performance by improving your core and trunk |
| connection between core fitness and martial arts | | | | fitness. This is really the connection between core |
| in more detail. | | | | fitness and martial combative arts. |
| First off, let's define what your core is. For our | | | | If you look at elite self defense artists, Bruce Lee, |
| purposes, the core of your body starts at your | | | | for instance, you'll see that their bodies are very |
| chest and goes to just below your hips. I'm not | | | | well proportioned. With their shirts on they look |
| really concerned if you include your shoulders in | | | | like everyone else. Here's another thing about |
| your definition of "core" or not. The basic idea is | | | | core strength and martial arts-it's not about being |
| that you're not taking into account your legs and | | | | "big". It's about being strong. |
| your arms. | | | | Core fitness and self-defense complement each |
| Athletic strength, whether that be to throw a ball | | | | other very well. With martial arts you can |
| or throw a punch, begins in the core of your | | | | dramatically increase your core strength. With |
| body, more specifically your hips. All of these | | | | better core fitness, your martial self defense arts |
| types of movement from a golf swing, to | | | | will take off. |
| throwing a baseball, to hitting someone with a | | | | |