how can i improve my balance?

Question

its me again. I have terrible balance (when i was younger i never learnt how to ride a bike because of this)

Now i'm older i'm trying to do martial arts, but my lack of balance is kind of hindering me when it comes to trying kicks (especially when i try to practice them slowly)

Are there any simple exercises i can do to improve my balance.?

Answer 1

Keep one point.
The Japanese place the hara below the navel. It is the center of gravity for a man. Becoming more aware of it can help you improve balance. The hara should be relaxed so that you adapt to movement.

Try these exercises: Stand on one leg for a minute or two at a time. Change legs. Put your other foot against your calf and just stand. Concentrate on hara.
In the summertime, you can also go to the beach and go into knee-deep water at a place that has some nice waves. Practice standing in different positions as waves wash into you. Again, concentrate on hara and keeping it relaxed.

You may also want to get a doctor to check you out for an inner ear problem ; it's pretty unusual for somebody not to be able to learn to ride a bicycle. Maybe a big part of your problem can be solved by a simple treatment.

Answer 2

Some people's balance is off due to problems in their inner ear. One of the things that I do with my students is I have them stand with their feet about two shoulders width apart and lean back, arching their back, looking back at the ceiling above and behind them. Once you can do this fairly well then do it with your eyes closed. Do it a few times each day and you should see some improvement after a week or two.

Sometimes it can also be a physical thing like weak knees or ankles. For this I have a student stand in a doorway or hallway on a pillow and then lift one knee up slowly, leg bent, in front of them with their arms extended out sideways to catch themselves if they start to fall sideways. By doing this several times each day with each leg it will help strengthen your knees and ankles. Once you can do it and lift your knee in front start extending your leg out slowly like you are doing a front kick. This will also develop your sense of balance as well as the lateral strength in your knees and ankles which can also sometimes be part of the problem. You should see some improvement after three or four weeks.

Doing kicks slow, keeping your balance is an old training technique to strengthen your legs, develop your balance, and technique that is difficult for any student but especially for a beginner with balance problems. Stick with it and martial arts and in six months or less you will be a different person I bet!

Answer 3

One exercise that works together with shadow boxing - but may be applied to kick training as well is to:

keep your eye on an object that is very close - usually just use your finger and start spinning. Because your eyes are focused really close it disorients you, then as soon as you stop you can go back to shadow boxing or kicks.

It is probably going to be hard to do at first, but the idea is that it will be easier the more you do it and should help with the balance.

Russian MMA trainer Voronov (Red Devil team) popularized this technique.

Here is the Video of Fedor Emelianenko and Roman Zentsov doing it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pthPvmzlvW0

Answer 4

So, barrel racing eh? It is a entire lot of a laugh. comfortable you desire to take side. So right here is a few recommendation I have found out by way of classes. Definitly begin from stroll to trot to canter. I will begin with trot. So you'll be doing the clover leaf sample correct? Lets say you move to the left barrel first take the primary side broad and get particularly tight as you move round. Then head to the correct one and do the identical. Very primary: KEEP YOUR EYES UP! seem forward no longer on the barrel. I determined this difficult, but when you do not seem on the barrel you do a lot bigger. Anyway while you head to the highest one take it broad after which reduce in sharp. As you get bigger begin loping the house streach. Gradually whilst your horse is taking the barrel on the trot particularly good, you'll be able to canter him. Make certain your horse is aware of main alterations. It is pretty much the identical as on the trot however you ought to get the lead difference. I have not performed barrel racing routinely on the canter so I are not able to let you know a lot approximately it. Anyway that is a few of my recommendation. Good Luck wish you will have a laugh. Oh ya I forgot to say while you canter and possibly even trot you must placed a few sort of boot safeguard in your horses legs. As those speedy barrels can placed strain on them. I might say search out a instructor, even though it is only as soon as a month. Have a laugh.

Answer 5

Walking on rice paper is a classic Chinese routine that helps much. I do movements on a tightrope or on the edge of a 1" board too. Without good balance, one has no foundation for martial arts.

Answer 6

Walking and balancing on the curb is good. Balance on one leg and even balancing on one leg while standing on a brick can really help.

Answer 7

Practice makes perfect.

Maybe try walking along park railings - sometimes they are only a foot above the ground.

Get a wobble board from amazon (or make one?)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wobble-Board-40cm-PVC-Surface/dp/B000W0CMOK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=sports&qid=1196390534&sr=8-1

I found doing judo for a year gave me excellent balance, and years later it made it difficult to trip up or fall down.

Answer 8

Tai Chi