| by Hanshi Dave Kovar |
| Throughout my life I’ve taken advantage of my martial arts training in American Kenpo to make me a better athlete in other sports. I began practicing martial arts in the late 70’s as well as weight lifting, running, and even business management and vocal lessons. During this time I could see that my martial arts had an effect on my other activities. I also began to notice many of my martial arts students were better physically in other sports as well. They were more coordinated, reacted faster to changes, and due to their mental resilience didn’t give up easily. That’s when I began incorporating other martial arts styles into the Kovar’s [Satori] curriculum. I immediately noticed a positive change. My students began moving more naturally and developed more well-rounded physical and mental skills. My classes had better structure and more people were training for longer. To this day, I still encourage martial artists to keep training to help them develop better overall athleticism. With that said, I’d like to discuss how cross-training in martial arts can make performance in other sports more effective. For me personally, I’m always looking for practical fitness that is fun and can help improve my overall performance. Kickboxing, for example, is great for extended cardio, translating easily to endurance on the field. I’ve learned that training in different styles and moving in different ways creates better overall fitness and performance. Ultimately, I believe what keeps students training in martial arts is the sense of confidence and self-discipline they gain which helps them accomplish many other physical challenges, as well as the fact that it’s a year-round activity. And, there are so many styles and skills to learn in martial arts that one could train their whole life and barely scratch the surface.  Aside from the physical benefits, martial arts cross-training is a great way to build spatial awareness and balance. There are so many distractions nowadays that I believe it’s more important than ever to stay active and do something physical every day. My kids were always active growing up, whether riding their bikes around the neighborhood or kicking a soccer ball at the park. In addition, they enjoyed their martial arts training because of the relationships they built while learning unique skills together. Some of my closest relationships are with those I met in martial arts training. I believe that learning new skills keeps your mind sharp and helps you set goals. Confucius once wrote that one should “learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as if you were scared of missing it.” I believe martial arts training is one of the best ways to develop both physical and life skills. For that reason, I encourage our students to stay active and do a little something physical every day. Thank you for your time and I hope to see you in the dojo soon. Yours in Health, Hanshi Dave Kovar |
