“Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”
-Bruce Lee
Interestingly, the quote mentioned above is also a maxim from the United States Navy SEALs.
Bruce Lee may be the best known martial artist in history today. Lee was an author, movie star and actor, husband and father. However, as busy as he was, he was so skilled in his art that he was still considered by many to be the greatest. He even created his own Jeet Kune Do martial art.
Another famous Lee-ism is “I am not afraid of the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced a kick 10,000 times.”
It is said that every day, Lee practiced his main punch and also his partner for up to six hours; Perform abdominal exercises for up to four hours a day and always perform basic bodyweight movements consisting of: sit-ups, push-ups, push-ups, and squats. Ending your day with up to another four hours of footwork.
Now you may be wondering how this man became the greatest by practicing only what appears to be a kick, a single punch, a footwork, and some bodyweight exercises.
The basics. Lee realized the importance of simplicity and economy of motion. His lead punch and side kick were not only his longest weapons, but also his best attributes in terms of attributes. They were his two favorite strikes. Lee realized that by practicing these two shots over many other options, he will be faster and more efficient than his opponents.
We also see the need for good physical shape. Lee did more abs workouts than anything else because he had a belief that one would get punched in the abs frequently and needed the muscle armor. That note aside, full-body conditioning is important, and even seemingly ancient exercises are still great options.
It is well known that during adolescence Michael Jordan was not the best in basketball. In fact, he tells the story that many of his childhood coaches told him to quit the sport because he was inept.
“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I have been entrusted to make the game winning shot and I have missed. I have missed over and over and over again in my life. And it’s because of that I am successful. “
-Michael Jordan
What did Jordan do? He has told many in interviews that he stayed up all night, skipping meals and his job tossing baskets in his driveway over and over and over again.
You see, greatness is a choice. Anyone can achieve greatness. You have to have determination, will and drive; You must be willing to give up time, food, or money. You must dedicate your being to your passion and you can achieve anything.
“I am the greatest, I said it even before I knew it.”
-Muhammad Ali
What made Ali special is that he would tell himself and anyone who would listen that he was the best fighter in the world. This shows a psychological drive. A common training phrase is that you only tried to beat yourself yesterday.
The rest of the world didn’t matter. He told himself it was cool, as he mentioned, even before he realized it was. However, not only did that make him ‘great’, his training regimen was also quite similar to the others we’ve already mentioned.
Ali has mentioned that he would ‘imagine’ hitting the bag even if there was no bag, actually around to train; there was no punching bag in sight. When there was a bag, much of his training was done by slowly lining up each punch and only exerting a small amount of energy at the end of the punch by moving the bag only slightly. Remember that slow is smooth and smooth is fast?
These slow repetitive motion techniques train for proper body mechanics and dispersal of energy.
Within martial arts, the teacher generally asks beginning students to stand in a fighting stance and hold that stance for hours. This creates muscle memory and resistance to training.
These same instructors have students practice the same punches and kicks over and over again. Every day.
Almost like playing hoops over and over again; bag job over and over again; footwork, etc.
Many of the reality-based martial arts styles like Jeet Kune Do or Wing Chun, Philippine martial arts, or some of the tactical schools found in any of the current issues of any fighting magazine have succeeded in simplicity. .
Economy of motion, as Lee called it.
All masters of any art or sport or practice have been successful in repeating the basics. Introductory principles are the keys to all other aspects of what you are learning is the fundamental key to success in all other aspects and progress.
Oh, and do you remember that part about giving up time?
“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t give up. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
-Muhammad Ali
Practice your basics. Choose greatness.