Is there any exercise or anything I can do to improve my balance?

Question

I mainly need it to keep on my feet if I get shoved hard or something similar, but any advice at all is welcome.

Answer 1

try and stand still on each foot for a while , learn to skateboard and stuff like that.... handstands and lol... im heaps of help.. walk on balancing beams..

try yoga!


lol good luck! xx

Answer 2

If it is while doing a kick excessive leaning any one way or laying your head over while doing a kick will throw it off. If new to martial arts many people don't have the strength in their knee to keep their balance sometimes so it wobbles from side to side-especially when doing a front kick. As you practice more your knee becomes stronger and you balance starts to improve. If you have just a problem with your balance in general (which some people do due to other health problems or the way their inner ear works) then here are a few ways to develop and improve it.

Practice standing with your feet one shoulder width apart and arch your back looking up and backwards. Look at the ceiling and focus on the lines where the wall and ceiling meet and that will help give you a little more of a visual and spatial type perspective. Do this for five to ten seconds several times a day over a week or two. Once your balance improves then start doing it with your eyes closed which you will find harder to do but with some work and practice it should improve.

Another technique is to stand on one foot on a pillow in a narrow hallway or door way. You losely hold on to the door way so that you don't fall or if in a hallway have your arms extended out so that they are almost touching the walls so that you can't fall sideways either way more than a inch or two.

If you are losing your balance while kicking then practice doing the kick and not bending over or leaning your head over excessively. Lightly put your finger tips on the wall as you face it while doing the kicks slow and to extension and then retraction back. This will not only build your sense of balance but your kick. You can also use the back of a chair for this if you are not too tall.

All these techniques will give you a better sense of balance and develop your ability to make minor adjustments to it as you are getting shoved or kicking.

Answer 3

Spend some time in a Judo club, you'll learn all about staying on your feet when getting shoved and pulled around. Static exercises are good, but not really what you are asking for. You need something that is actively trying to disrupt your balance while you try and keep it.

Could always take the "Karate Kid" approach and go stand in some waves ;)

Answer 4

Do front kick retract the foot slowly to the other knee do a side kick retract the foot slowly lean forward slightly do a back thrust heel kick leg fully extended .Retract foot slowly return to ground .Do it again and again and again .Initially the kicks should be no higher than your waist.Once you get good with it vary the kicks .
front side back
back side front
side back front
front back side

Once you feel confident with your balance do them full speed.

Have someone shove you hard from behind go into a roll come back up on your feet kick him

Have someone push you hard from the front.Learn to "absorb" the force by sliding backwards or taking a large step backwards
kick him

All methods require constant practice and stopping the practice because you feel you "know" it will be a waste of time.

Answer 5

Highly recommend Tai Chi (Taiji). It is a martial arts that need to practice in slow body movement in the beginning phase which can train your body-mind coordination greatly.

Tai Chi can also relax your mind and reduce people's stress level. There are many health benefit of Tai Chi beside improving one's balance.

Answer 6

- standing on one foot
- try feeling your balance. Many MA teach this (chi qong, pa qua, tai chi, aikido) take a wide stance and try to put your body in a position where you feel in balance. It's more difficult then you think.
- Classic aikido stance front foot forward and back foot sideways and bend your knees. The idea is to sink into the floor (mentally) if you do this any impact will drive your back foot into the floor which will make your position stronger.

Answer 7

i am well known locally in the martial arts world for my ability to balance-i taught myself thus: to begin with i placed a normal dinner chair in the centre of the room-placed one hand on it raised a leg and focussed on a single point in the room (a spot on the wall for instance) changing legs when they get tired-after a while you will be able to do this without the chair. use a variety if kicks (front kick/side kick/back kick etc). it is important to keep your hands up and close to your body (once you have mastered letting go of the chair). this also has the added bonus of strengthening the legs-be patient and it will come. raise the legs slowly. no disrespect to the above answers but you don't have to get involved in mind-games/qi etc-it just takes simple practice!!.

Answer 8

Check out a DVD or VHS on QiGong. Excellent improvement of balance and strength with balance and quickly also. It is amazing. Most Libraries have these and well worth a few days work. You will be amazed.

Answer 9

Equipment exercises using Stability ball or Board. Try standing on it, push up, sit ups, squats, rolls etc

Body weight exercises such as plyometric stretches, hand stand, one legged squats, ballet kicks to improve your core strength, coordination and flexibility.

Balance is not a single set skill, it requires core strength to keep your limbs in balance, coordination skills to maintain balance and flexibility to maximise overall balancing skill.

Answer 10

If you need to keep your balance because someone or something is going to be pushing you, then I suggest you practice by having someone push you a lot and the key is to put your weight into it, push back. Stay low to the ground, knees slightly bent. That would keep you from falling.

Answer 11

Qi trainning.
have 3 people push you. Slowly increasing the force of their push as you resist while blind folded.
In reallity you will push your weight with your chest against their hands while keeping your feet in the same place until you are leanning forward 45 degrees.
Is a matter of commitment, no excuses. no thinking, just do it

My Wu-Su sifu taught me that.