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Reflexes are the way your body behaves when it needs to act without thinking. They can be either natural reflexes (such as quickly recoiling your hand when you touch something way too hot) or taught reflexes (such as not dropping that very expensive or precious cup just because it is too precious). Training your reflexes may be successfully accomplished through endless repeating of the movements. During this process, the consistent actions to certain stimulus will be converted in subconscious triggered actions (the reflexes).
Steps
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1List the attacks you want to improve your reaction against.
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2Find a training partner.[1]Advertisement
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3Ask your partner to execute the attack slowly. While your partner executes the attack, attempt to dodge or block it. Be wise to understand that certain attacks can't be blocked, for instance, blocking a punch will just get yourself hit both by the punch and by the hand or arm you chose to block with. You can also train an immediate counter-attack after successfully dodging the original attack.[2]
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4Repeat the very same attack with the very same defense. If you think you're doing it right, then begin increasing the attack speed and the defense speed. Do this for about 10~15 minutes. Your body will learn to react to this particular situation.[3]
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5Switch into another attack or into another defense (or both). Continue training for about 10~15 minutes. Your body will now learn to react to a different situation. Nevertheless, until here, you're always expecting the attack.
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6Continue switching until you've successfully trained about 3 or 4 attacks and corresponding defenses.
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7Ask your partner to do one of the previously trained attacks at random. Once again, begin slowly and keep increasing the attack speed if you're being successful in your training. Your body will now start to train on how to quickly identify the attack and respond accordingly.[4]
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8Repeat it all. Repeating is the only way your reflexes will be trained.
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9Find more partners, or at least keep finding ways of using different attacks. You want to improve fighting reflexes, not improve your reflexes when someone you know punches you in a very particular way.[5]
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10Once you've mastered this, find two more people. Have one stand on each side of and in front of you, and execute the same attacks at random (It is best to have another person call out a certain number for each person, to avoid all of them attacking you at once.)
Community Q&A
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QuestionAs a larger man, would I be better off blocking or dodging?SilvDragCommunity AnswerSome people, although large, are light on their feet. If you can move your feet faster than your opponent can hit, then you would be better off dodging. If you can't move faster, then block with your arms instead.
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QuestionAre quick reflexes necessary for taekwondo?Community AnswerYes, you'll need excellent reflexes to excel in taekwondo.
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QuestionWhat if I want to learn how to improve dodging and blocking while using a long stick like a staff?Community AnswerIt's the same thing, except you now practice with a stick. Just work on your reflexes, but keep the stick around.
Warnings
- Warm up first, so as not to injure yourself (move a bit first)⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Start slow, as accidents do happen⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Make sure the people you train with aren't actually going to hurt you. If you think they will then find another partner to train with.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.mmarevolution.com/focus-mitt-drills/
- ↑ https://www.expertboxing.com/how-to-improve-your-fighting-reflexes
- ↑ https://www.expertboxing.com/how-to-improve-your-fighting-reflexes
- ↑ https://evolve-mma.com/blog/5-ways-develop-lightning-reaction-time-martial-arts/
- ↑ https://evolve-mma.com/blog/5-ways-develop-lightning-reaction-time-martial-arts/